“Act within your statutory mandate” – Minister charges new NBC board
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has tasked the new Governing Board of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to act within its statutory mandate in the discharge of its functions.
The minister gave the admonition while inaugurating the board on Thursday in Abuja.
He specifically charged the chairman of the board, Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa and other members to limit their role to policy formulation and not the running of the affairs of the Commission.
“Please note that the role of the board of any organisation is to formulate policies, and not to engage in the day-to-day running of the organisation.
“The board is to evolve strategic ways of supporting the commission so it can most effectively deliver its mandate.
“I therefore enjoin you all to maintain a cordial relationship with the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission to engender a smooth working relationship,” he said.
Mohammed called the attention of the board members to the critical role of the NBC especially as the country moves closer to the 2023 general elections.
He said the NBC would come under increasing pressure to step up its regulatory role in order to prevent a repeat of what transpired before, during and after the 2019 general elections.
According to the minister, during and after the previous elections some broadcast stations threw caution to the wind and engaged in inciting, incendiary and unprofessional broadcast.
He therefore charged the management of the NBC to ensure that the licensees adhere strictly to the tenets of the Broadcasting Code.
The minister also urged the board to buy into the Digital Switch Over (DSO) project and work towards its successful delivery.
He said the DSO – transition from analogue to digital broadcasting – is a legacy project that would change the face of broadcasting in the country.
While congratulating the board chairman and members, Mohammed said they should see their appointment as a call to service and must live up to expectations.
Responding on behalf of other members, Bolarinwa thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for approving their appointment and the minister for recommending them to the President.
He assured that they would live up to expectations and would not betray the trust reposed in them.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari on March 16 approved the reconstitution of the governing board of the (NBC) following the expiration of the tenure of the former board.
Other members of the Board included Mr. Wada Ibrahim, Mr. Iheanyichukwu Dike, Mrs. Adesola Ndu, Mr. Olaniyan Badmus, Mr. Bashir Ibrahim, Mr. Obiora Ilo, Mr. Ahmad Sajo and Mr. Bayo Erikitola,
Also on the board are Mr. Peter Afunanya, representing the Department of State Services, Dr. Musbau Kayode, representing the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and Alhaji Balarabe Ilela, the Director-General of NBC
