The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) have informed the Federal High Court Abuja about their respective positions on Pay-Per-View subscription requests against Multichoice Nigeria products, GOtv and DStv.

Multichoice Nigeria Limited had asked the court in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/563/2024 to refuse a plaintiff application seeking to compel it to meter its GOtv and DStv decoders to read customers’ subscriptions only per view or during viewing.

FCCPC and NBC were drawn into the fresh legal dispute by Maduabuchi O. Idam Esq, who sought an order compelling the FCCPC, NBC, and the Attorney General of the Federation to direct every TV network provider in Nigeria to regulate or meter their subscriptions to read per view or during viewing and to roll over unused subscriptions after the expiration of the subscription duration.

Customer/Multichoice Contention 

In the suit, the claimant also seeks an order compelling Multichoice to roll over unused subscriptions upon expiration for Idam and other Nigerian customers, allowing them to maximize their investment in its products.

In this latest suit, Idam alleges that GOtv subscriptions, for instance, are not metered and do not account for viewing time; instead, customers are disconnected from service upon the expiration of their subscription, regardless of usage.

Idam states that apart from the alleged arbitrary price hikes that took effect in May 2024, Multichoice does not allow customers to roll over unused subscriptions, preventing them from fully utilizing their purchased services, citing this development as oppressive.

Multichoice denies the allegations of customer oppression, drawing the court’s attention to prior clarifications from Multichoice and other pay-TV operators during meetings with the NBC regarding the feasibility of the Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) model, stating that it is not commercially or technically viable in satellite broadcasting due to current technological limitations.

“PAYG has been investigated several times by the National Assembly. In the 8th Assembly, the House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics, and Values, led by Hon. Olusegun Odebunmi, found that allegations of exorbitant Pay-TV subscription charges against Multichoice and the GOtv license holder were unsubstantiated and that the PAYG model is not technically or commercially feasible in the broadcast industry,” Multichoice stated.

What FCCPC Is Saying 

In FCCPC’s counter affidavit dated August 16, 2024, and exclusively seen by Nairametrics, Mr. Adedeji Bankole, an officer in the Department of Legal Services of the Commission, countered the claimant’s submission, maintaining that most of the allegations regarding its Pay-Per-View request are incorrect.

Bankole stressed that the FCCPC’s mandate focuses on promoting competition and protecting consumers, but it does not directly regulate how businesses should be run.

He stated that while the FCCPC sets guidelines and enforces laws related to competition and consumer protection, it does not dictate how businesses should be operated or managed.

“The FCCPC is not in any position to direct or compel Multichoice to regulate or meter their subscriptions to read per view or during viewing and to roll over unused subscriptions after the expiration of the subscription duration,” he stated.

He added that the FCCPC has investigated Multichoice several times before and that other subscribers/consumers have taken Multichoice to court in the past over increases in tariffs, and several of those cases are now on appeal.

NBC’s Position 

Still on the matter, Odoeme N.V., representing the NBC, submitted to the court that it received a complaint from the plaintiff dated September 20, 2023, addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of Multichoice TV.

In response to the complaint, it set up a committee to investigate the matter concerning requests for Pay-Per-View, among others.

He stated that Multichoice, through their letters dated October 30, 2023, and April 23, 2024, informed the NBC of their intention to increase the subscription fee.

He continued that the NBC, in its letters dated November 7, 2023, and April 30, 2024, urged and directed Multichoice to suspend the increase while inviting the pay-TV provider for a meeting for further discussion.

“But Multichoice did not honor the invitation. The NBC, on September 28, 2023, wrote to Multichoice to respond to the plaintiff’s complaint, but Multichoice did not respond or make any representation,” he added.

He explained that before the committee established to investigate the plaintiff’s complaint against Multichoice concluded its assignment, the Federal High Court Abuja delivered a judgment declaring that the NBC, not being either the Nigerian Police or the court, does not have the power to investigate or sanction.

The NBC said it is bound by the judgment of the court and cannot presently attend to any complaint against Multichoice for now.

“This judgment forestalled the implementation of the (NBC)committee’s findings. Owing to the said judgment, the NBC could not take any action in sanctioning or giving directives to Multichoice regarding the plaintiff’s complaint,” the NBC stated in its submission, seen by Nairametrics.

Nairametrics has gathered that the court has scheduled December 5, 2024, for a hearing on this legal dispute.

What You Should Know 

Nairametrics reports that Multichoice has faced accusations of exploiting Nigerian customers.

Over the years, the Pay-TV provider has been scrutinized by lawmakers and consumer protection tribunals over its pricing practices.

The hearing follows the Nigerian Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal’s decision on July 12, 2024, granting a request from lawyer Festus Onifade to withdraw his case against Multichoice Nigeria concerning a price hike of GOtv and DStv subscriptions.

Initially, the tribunal fined Multichoice 150 million naira and mandated a one-month free subscription for violating interim orders, but Multichoice appealed and filed for a stay of proceedings.

The tribunal rescheduled the case to November, but Onifade chose to withdraw the suit, which the tribunal approved without awarding costs.

Multichoice announced new price adjustments for DStv and GOtv packages on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. An email to subscribers stated, “On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, we will adjust our prices across all our packages on DStv and GOtv. We understand the impact this change may have on you—our valued customer—but the rise in the cost of business operations has led us to make this difficult decision. It remains our mission to provide the best entertainment and viewing experience to you, and we are committed to continuing to deliver high-quality content and unparalleled service.”

[Nairametrics]

In the Holy Scriptures, Samuel, the revered prophet and leader, stood before the people of Israel and issued a bold challenge. He invited them to bring forth any evidence of his wrongdoing. “Here I am,” he said. “Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed?” (1 Samuel 12:3). It was an extraordinary act of courage and integrity, a leader holding himself accountable to the very people he led, daring them to find fault in his governance. Unsurprisingly, the people responded: “You have not defrauded or oppressed us.”

Fast forward to contemporary Nigeria, a country with a rich history of leadership, but one also plagued by the recurring issue of corruption. Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, recently made a similar declaration to Samuel’s. He proclaimed to Nigerians that throughout his tenure as governor, he had never stolen public funds. El-Rufai, in the same spirit of boldness, invited scrutiny, challenging anyone with evidence to come forward. It was a rare but commendable act in Nigerian politics, a leader opening himself to public judgment with a clean conscience. But can we say the same for other former governors, presidents, and public officials?

Nigeria, often referred to as the “Giant of Africa,” is a country blessed with immense resources. Its people, resilient and industrious, have continued to thrive despite the frequent political mismanagement that has characterized the nation’s leadership. Time and again, the media is flooded with reports of former governors, ministers, presidents, and even lawmakers implicated in corrupt practices. These range from the looting of state coffers to gross mismanagement of funds meant for the development of public infrastructure.

The consequences of such corrupt leadership are all too clear. Nigeria’s roads are deplorable, healthcare is in shambles, the education sector is underfunded, and unemployment continues to skyrocket. Meanwhile, these leaders, past and present, often live in lavish luxury, far removed from the suffering of the common man.

Yet, even in the face of these damning realities, very few Nigerian leaders have come forward with the kind of transparency Samuel demonstrated, or the forthrightness shown by El-Rufai. This raises a critical question: Can any of Nigeria’s past governors or presidents stand before the people, as Samuel did, and say, “I have not stolen. I have not oppressed”? Can they invite scrutiny and confidently state that their hands are clean?

The issue of corruption in Nigeria is not new. From the oil boom of the 1970s to the present day, corruption has been a persistent challenge. Countless investigative reports have revealed the looting of public funds by government officials, many of whom are former governors or presidents. Several of these leaders, after leaving office, have faced investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), with varying degrees of success in holding them accountable.

But despite the many cases of alleged corruption, only a handful of former leaders have ever voluntarily subjected themselves to the kind of public accountability we saw with Samuel and, more recently, El-Rufai. Most prefer to hide behind the veil of political immunity or manipulate the system to avoid prosecution.

El-Rufai’s challenge to the Nigerian public is a rare example. He invited anyone with evidence of wrongdoing to step forward, confident that his governance record would stand the test. This challenge should be extended to all former governors and presidents. It is time for them to face the people and account for their time in office. After all, they were elected or appointed to serve, not to enrich themselves at the expense of the masses.

Imagine the profound impact it would have on the nation’s moral fabric if every former governor, president, or public official were required to publicly declare their assets and account for the decisions they made while in office. Imagine the change in public perception if leaders openly invited investigations into their financial dealings, as a demonstration of their integrity and commitment to transparency. It would signify a new era in Nigerian politics, one where integrity and accountability become the norm rather than the exception.

Unfortunately, the silence of many former leaders continues to cast a long shadow over Nigerian politics. While Samuel could proudly challenge his people to prove he had stolen from them, the vast majority of Nigerian leaders cannot do the same. The allegations of corruption, whether founded or unfounded, persist because these leaders have never cleared the air. They remain silent, refusing to open their records for public scrutiny, leaving room for speculation and distrust.

This silence is not without consequence. The enduring lack of accountability erodes public trust in governance, making it difficult for even genuinely honest leaders to gain the confidence of the people. As a result, the Nigerian populace has become increasingly disillusioned, often viewing politicians as self-serving individuals who prioritize personal wealth over public welfare.

The silence also encourages the younger generation of politicians to adopt similar behaviors, knowing that they, too, can enrich themselves without facing significant consequences. This creates a vicious cycle in which corruption becomes entrenched, and the political class continues to operate with impunity.

Nigerians deserve better. They deserve leaders who are willing to be held accountable, who understand that public service is not a path to personal enrichment but a sacred duty to the people. It is time for all former governors and presidents to take a page from Samuel’s book, and from El-Rufai’s, by stepping forward to declare their innocence or face the consequences of their silence.

Accountability should not be a foreign concept in Nigerian politics. It is a fundamental requirement of leadership. If a leader cannot account for their actions while in office, how can they claim to have served the people faithfully? How can they lay any legitimate claim to the title of “leader”?

To effect real change in Nigeria, there must be a collective effort to instill transparency and accountability into the political culture. This will require not only the willingness of leaders to submit themselves to public scrutiny but also the establishment of institutions that can effectively carry out such oversight.

The role of civil society organizations, investigative journalists, and anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC and ICPC cannot be overstated. These groups must be empowered to hold all former and current leaders accountable, ensuring that no one is above the law. Equally, the Nigerian public must continue to demand transparency from their leaders, refusing to accept anything less than full accountability.

The challenge has been laid before all former governors and presidents in Nigeria: come forward, as Samuel did, and declare before the people that you never stole, that you governed with integrity, and that your hands are clean. If you cannot, then perhaps it is time to reflect on the cost of your silence and the damage it continues to inflict on the nation.

Nigeria needs leaders who can confidently stand before the people and say, “I have not defrauded or oppressed you.” Anything less is an insult to the very notion of leadership. It is time for a new era of accountability, one where leaders prove their worth not by their wealth, but by their integrity.

The National Examinations Council, NECO, has said candidates would pay a N50,000 fee to reprint their certificates.

Disclosing this in Minna, Niger State, the Registrar of NECO, Dantani Wushishi, said the fee is subject to periodic review.

In a statement he signed, Wushishi said: “The N50,000 fee for certificate reprints is subject to periodic review.”

NECO said requests for reprints “will only be accepted within one year of the original certificate issuance”.

“After this period, the council will no longer entertain such requests,” he added.

The Council also set a one-month deadline for candidates to submit requests for the correction of results.

[DailyPost]

“The world is witnessing and benefiting from the can-do spirit of the Nigerian people, our massive intellectual capacity, and our enterprise and industry in all vocations, from arts to science, technology to infrastructure. The dreams that our founding fathers envisaged are still a work in progress. Every day, we put our hands on the plough, determined to do a better job of it.” – President Tinubu in his 64th independence anniversary speech yesterday, October 1, 2024.

I listened to the 22-minutes’ national broadcast of President Bola Tinubu yesterday. While it had some soundbites and generally updated the citizenry on the state of play about our country, it fell short of the expectations of many compatriots. Before I address the missing gaps, here are some of the highlights of the president’s second independence day speech since inauguration on May 29, 2023.

On the security front, the president said his administration is winning the war on terror and banditry. He said the target is to eliminate all the threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and the scourge of all forms of violent extremism. Within one year, he claimed his government has eliminated Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever. As of the last count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by our gallant troops in the Northeast, Northwest, and some other parts of the country.  While this feat is commendable, it is important to deal with the push factor which is making more Nigerians to take to crimes and criminality as means of survival. Unless this is addressed, the ground will continue to be fertile for sustainable recruitments of new felons and bandits.

The president said as a way of responding to recent natural disasters, at the last meeting of the Federal Executive Council, a Disaster Relief Fund was approved to mobilise private and public sector funds to help the country respond faster to emergencies.   Furthermore, he has ordered integrity tests of all our dams in the country to avert future disasters. On the economic front, the president said reforms have attracted foreign direct investments worth more than $30 billion since he came to power.

He said the FEC approved the Economic Stabilisation Bills, which will now be transmitted to the National Assembly. These transformative bills will make our business environment more friendly, stimulate investment and reduce the tax burden on businesses and workers once they are passed into law.  The need for genuine ease of doing business cannot be overemphasized.

Tinubu said his administration is resolute in its determination to implement the Supreme Court judgment on the financial autonomy of local governments. On this count, we have seen a raft of local government elections being held across states where local governments are hitherto being administered by caretaker committees. However, the quality of these elections leaves much to be desired as the ruling parties in the states where the polls are conducted end up winning all the available councillorship and chairmanship seats. These elections are more or less shambolic as opposition political parties are muscled out of the contest or State Independent Electoral Commissions conducting the elections simply announce preferred candidates of the governor.

On food production and security, the president lauded Governors of Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Kwara, Nasarawa, and the Southwest Governors that have embraced his agricultural production programme and urged other states to join the FG in investing in mechanised farming. He said the FG is playing its part by supplying fertilizer and making tractors and other farm equipment available. “Last week, the Federal Executive Council approved establishing a local assembly plant for 2000 John Deere tractors, combine harvesters, disc riders, bottom ploughs and other farm equipment. The plant has a completion time of six months.”

The president did not say how much of the 10 million hectares of land he promised to cultivate in his August 4, 2024 speech has been cultivated and how much quantum of increase have been recorded in food production. He also should know that despite his directive since August 4 that tariffs and other import duties should be removed on rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, drugs, and other pharmaceutical and medical supplies for the next 6 months, to help drive down the prices; costs of food, drugs and medical products remain astronomic.

The president glibly said his energy transition programme is on course and that he is expanding the adoption of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas for mass transit with private sector players. The question is, how many of the 3,000 CNG busses he promised since last year July 31 has been delivered?  When are we likely going to start seeing these busses plying our roads? What about the lingering turn around maintenance of the Port Harcourt refinery? When will it start production? What about the pricing of PMS with Dangote refinery? Will there ever be price stability of our petroleum products?

The president said recognising that we cannot design a future that belongs to Nigerian youths without making them its architects he is organising a National Youth Conference. This conference will be a platform to address the diverse challenges and opportunities confronting our young people. “The 30-day Confab will unite young people nationwide to collaboratively develop solutions to issues such as education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice. The modalities of this Confab and selection of delegates will be designed in close consultation with our young people through their representatives.”

This is commendable provided it will not go the way of 2014 national conference organised by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in which over N12bn was purportedly spent to convoke a national dialogue with the outcome jettisoned. I sincerely hope this is not another jamboree. The president spoke about other youth-centric programmes such as the 3 million Technical Talents programme of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, aimed at building Nigeria’s technical talent backbone.  He also spoke about Nigerian Education Loan Fund, which provides cheap loans to our students to pursue their tertiary educational dreams.  No mention of the amount already disbursed or number of beneficiary thus far. There is a planned launch of the Renewed Hope Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme which is conceived as a comprehensive suite of interventions at job creation by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment that is aimed at facilitating the creation of 2.5 million jobs, directly and indirectly, on an annual incremental basis.

The critical missing gaps in the president’s speech include lack of information on the number of people who have been gainfully employed by his government in its 16 months’ administration. No mention was made of number of people who have been lifted out of poverty. How many people have benefitted from its presidential initiatives on support to nano, small and medium enterprises remain unknown? No mention was made about anti-corruption initiatives; blockade of revenue leakages including stoppage of oil theft. The resident was also silent on reduction in the cost of governance and the proposed cabinet reshuffle. Lastly, the president kept mum on when Nigerian will hold the postponed National Population and Housing Census.

AS the country marks its 64th independence anniversary today, I revisited some of the articles I wrote over the last 15 years to commemorate our years of independence. I began to wonder whether there is really any point writing anything new.

In fact, if you bring any article written about the Nigerian condition five or ten years ago and edit the dates and the gladiators, it would still seem to be relevant. This raises a fundamental question of whether our writings really make any difference:  Is there really anyone out there who is in a position to change things, who bothers to read these articles? And if such people exist, do they care? 

The dominant impression the power wielders at all levels of governance give, is that it is their “turn”, and since most seem not even to believe in the country, shorn of all pretences, they are telling their critics, or those proffering unsolicited advice, to “go hug a transformer”, or “go to court” if they do not like their style of governance or their explanations for why things are the way they are.

Depending on who you are, their estimation of the followership you command and your ethnic, party or religious affiliations, you could also be accused of “bad belle” because you or the candidate you supported lost the last election. You will sure be on the radar of the EFCC or other security agencies who will one day invite you for questioning on suspicions of ‘terrorism financing’.

The combination of all these seem to have pushed most Nigerian into a state of ennui – bored and tired of everything.  They appear tired of their leaders and distrustful of those angling to replace them. They scoff at suggestions for making things right and tell you that our problem is not the absence of good laws, but implementing them. I suspect that many of those joining the ‘japa’ syndrome(including people who are doing reasonably well here), do so not necessarily because they feel they will have a better life where they are emigrating to, but because they want to escape from it all for the sake of their sanity and humanity. Nigeria is fast approximating the Hobbesian ‘state of nature’ in which life is short, nasty and brutish. Hope – that critical ingredient that gives meaning to life- seems to be evaporating quickly for most Nigerians.

The above brings back the question of what really is the problem with Nigeria? And what is the way out. Since I have posed these questions severally during each of our independence anniversaries the past 15 years or so, I will, on this occasion revisit my views on the trouble with Nigeria, and the way out, using my article on the country’s 63rd anniversary as the baseline:

The idea that there is nothing else to celebrate other than our managing to be together for these past 63 years, is to take pessimism too far. Certainly, we have made some progress on all fronts – from the revolution in telecoms to a Nigerian firm (Dangote) achieving the status of a multinational corporation, to the emergence of an indigenous motor manufacturing company (Innoson Motors), to the country having a Nobel Laureate in Literature and to the global mainstreaming of the accomplishments of our entertainment artists in music and films. On nationhood, the rate of inter-ethnic marriages and friendships has continued to grow.

I now believe that though there are several Nigerians and corporations that have distinguished themselves – in businesses, entertainment and sports –  these do not automatically translate to national achievements because, as the saying goes, the whole is always greater than the sum of its constituent parts, not the other way around. I may therefore have been too hard on those who argued that there was nothing to celebrate about during our anniversary last year.

Nigeria is like a national football club made up of highly talented players but who cannot translate their individual skills into an effective goal-scoring national team.  Even the progress we have made in inter-ethnic marriages which I highlighted as one of our bright spots during the 63rd anniversary, has now come under strain. Since the 2023 elections, in some parts of the South-West, being married to an Igbo, is now promoted by some as a disqualification for public office.  The impact of this ‘new normal’ on building inter-ethnic bonds through marriages is yet to fully crystallise through the system.

In fact, the idea that the separate nationalities that were agglomerated into one entity in 1914 could have done better if they had continued on their individual paths to development is purely academic. The truth, however, is that if these nationalities were as powerful and successful as we often make them to be, they would not have been easily conquered and pacified by a few White men, as was the case in most pre-colonial entities that fused to become Nigeria. Besides, that a nation has a homogeneity of culture and language is no guarantee that it will build a successful nation-state, as the case of Somalia illustrates.

I still believe strongly in my position on this. I also believe this is probably one of the reasons most Nigerians from different ethnic and religious affiliation are still hoping that the country will work. There is a big distrust of leaders at various levels of governance, there is scepticism that opposition leaders will make any difference if given the opportunity, and there is a lack of confidence that the system dynamics in the country will allow such opposition leaders to come to power in the first place – even if people vote overwhelmingly for them. There are also doubts about the leaders of the various separatist movements – a wariness that they have the capacity to achieve their avowed goal of separation, suspicions that they might be using their agitations for fame and lucre, and lack of conviction that even if they manage to succeed in their agitations, life under their governance will be better than what currently prevails. 

In fact, the whole notion that “if we go our separate ways” some parts of the country would become El dorado while others would become desolate lands, have been demystified under the Buhari and Tinubu presidencies. Until he became President in 2015, Buhari’s supporters passionately promoted him as an ascetic and incorruptible man who had the magic wand, or whose ‘body language’ alone would solve all of the country’s problems. However, by the time he exhausted his eight years in office, almost all indicators of human development in the country – including some progress made in nation-building, have nosedived south.

Instead of a political ‘messiah’, he became seen by the generality of Nigerians as the poster boy of incompetence and clannishness. His famed ‘body language’ appeared to have worked only on some of the public functionaries under him who competed to disproportionately site federal projects in his home town of Daura. This, however, did not save even his home state of Katsina from the fate several other states in the country suffered and still suffer– excruciating poverty and frightening insecurity. 

When Tinubu was campaigning for office, in contrast to Buhari, no one marketed him as ‘Mr. Integrity’.  Here his promoters, while not conceding the scandals and allegations linked to him, argued that since we have tried a man deified as a saint (Buhari) and it did not work, it might be time to try a man perceived differently.

He was promoted as a talent-spotter, creator of modern Lagos and ocean tamer, who, when he was the Governor of Lagos State, demonstrated his cosmopolitanism by having Nigerians from different ethnicities and religions in his cabinet. He was also marketed as an extremely wealthy man who knew the ways of the crooked and how to tame them.   However, less than two years in office, the Tinubu government is making Buhari look good on all fronts.  Welcome to the season of ennui.

The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) got its fair share of the wave of federal appointments as Mr Bayo Onanuga, the Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, last Friday, announced the appointment of seven Executive Directors. The announcement led me down the path of nostalgia, a wishful past when NTA was the king of broadcasting and could do only the right things.

The appointees according to Onanuga’s statement include: Ayo Adewuyi, Executive Director, News (actually reappointed), Ibrahim Aliyu, Special Duties, Malam Muhamed Fatuhu Mustapha, Administration and Training, and Mrs Apinke Effiong (Finance).

Others are Mrs Tari Taylaur, Programme, Mr Sadique Musa Omeiza Engineering, and Mrs Oluwakemi Fashina, Marketing. Quite a couple of them came with interesting annotations. Effiong is described as an expert in financial marketing with treasury, management accounting and reporting skills; Taylaur as an audio/visual creator, producer and showrunner; and Fashina was hailed as an integrated marketing communications professional and chartered marketer.

My first observation here is that there seems to be some level of diversity or democratisation of the appointments as against the practice of the past where certain positions and offices at NTA were seemingly reserved for some people. The Executive Directors are expected to contribute their wealth of experience and support the Director General in the person of Mr Salihu Abdul Hamid Dembos in order to give NTA a new direction and some level of creative vitality. NTA needs some fillip at the moment and the writer is only praying that the new appointees are able to offer just that.

Established in April 1976 by Decree 24, which has since become an Act of Parliament, and charged with the responsibility for the provision of television broadcasting in Nigeria and other related matters thereto, NTA has seen some glorious days as the sole government station building facilities across the states of the federation.

Taking maximum advantage of its network strength and putting the abundant talents to great use, NTA promoted flagship programmes from different parts of the country – Masquerade from NTA, Enugu, Hotel de Jordan from NTA, Benin, Cockcrow at Dawn from NTA, Jos, Village Headmaster from Lagos, and much later Mirror in the Sun, Checkmate and Ripples, among others. It was a great time on television. You have to wait religiously for the network news for you to get the major news of the day or, if you work in a newspaper, you must monitor the network news for news break by 9pm.

Something happened in 1992 which NTA was too arrogant to spot. The broadcast sector was deregulated by Decree 38, now an Act of Parliament, National Broadcasting Act CAP N11, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004, to give opportunity to private business promoters to test the perilous waters of broadcasting.

NTA held the development in scorn, even more the regulator, NBC, and those jostling to come into the sector. That marked the birth of Raypower and AIT, Channels Television, Silverbird Television and Rhythm FM, MITV, TVC and much later, Arise TV, in no particular order. The rest, they say, is history, a cliche I don’t particularly like because it gives proof of a people not ready to learn the lessons of history.

The burgeoning content creating sector, now Nollywood, discriminated against by the NTA, quickly shifted camps to the new broadcast operators and a new industry was born, very robust and rambunctious. The new broadcasters invested in new technologies and more modern broadcast practices. NTA was receding into the past and becoming a dodo. It failed to recognise competition when it came and now the government broadcast behemoth has been fighting ever since to cope with that competition. Allegiance has since shifted and so are the TV viewing eyes!

This material is not an elegy for NTA but a call to the new Executive Directors to take a dispassionate look at history and see how they can dig the station out of a self-created hole and begin to reposition it. It’s like waking the Titanic, but can they? It is the responsibility of the President to appoint but the onus rests upon the appointees to perform.

But for the NTA to witness a rebirth, it has to identify its place in history and strip itself of a debilitating arrogance. Is NTA a Public Broadcaster or a Government Broadcaster?

The Nigeria Broadcasting Code recognises three tiers of broadcasting, categorised as follows: Public Service Broadcasting (PSB), Private/Commercial Broadcasting and Community Broadcasting.

Those who are versed in this matter told this writer that the NTA is more of a government broadcaster because it is funded by the government which also makes strategic appointments as was done last week. From inception, the appointments have little to do with professionalism but more with political patronage subsidised by intolerable degree of subservience.

After all, appointments are made by the President through the recommendations of the Minister, who is also empowered by the NTA Act to give directives of general order to the NTA and officials must obey. It can be any order depending upon the mood of the Minister or even his wife!

Under this kind of practice, good journalism suffers, creativity and poetic licence are jeopardised, and accountability enjoys no relevance. No system suffers the aforementioned consequential defects and enjoys rectitude or experience needed growth. NTA enjoys no good standing between the two.

This writer is of the opinion that what the regulator would have recommended for NTA is to operate as a Public Service Broadcaster (PSB). The PSB, the Code states, is broadcasting that is funded and controlled by the public, free from political and commercial interference. The regulator would have wished for NTA to follow best global practices, like the BBC and VOA.

There are examples, which is why I don’t think we have to reinvent the wheel in this part of the world. For instance, the BBC is primarily funded by licence fee and supplemented by incomes from its commercial subsidiaries. The station does not allow advertising because it is not a commercial operator. A standard TV licence currently stands at £169.50, and gives access to a number of TV channels, radio, blogs and other devices.

The monthly fee for 2021/22 was £13.25, and this is how it was spent: Television – £7.29, Radio – £2.09, Online – £1.27, BBC World Service – £1.30, Other Services and Production Costs – £.72, and Licence fee collection and Pension deficit cost – £0.58. It’s all about transparency and for every stakeholder to know that not a single pound sterling is accidented in the process.

The Voice of America (VOA), on the other hand, is funded by the US Agency of Global Media after approval by the Congress. VOA produces digital, TV, and radio content in 48 languages and broadcasting is targeted primarily at non-American outside of the United States. By November 2022, VOA reached 326m weekly across all platforms. That is their policy. But the source of funds is sure and guaranteed and is used for the purpose budgeted for.

He also suggested that the status of NTA must be made clear. It cannot be a government broadcaster and be canvassing for commercials with commercial operators at the same time. Such practice makes the playing field uneven. The station must be refocused and has to be in full compliance with the regulatory provisions of the NBC.

What are the new Executive Directors bringing to the table? Is it just the same hackneyed story of “we are the biggest network in Africa?” Talk is cheap, my friend, and such belief cannot be evacuated from the platform of pipe-dreams.

I don’t know what feeds my belief that the new appointees can do well. But first they must redefine the status of NTA and try to professionalise its operations. The station must have to embrace robust journalism practices and be able to present balanced views to its audience. I do not know whether NTA tracks its viewership but I am pressed to suggest here that the station is watched only by their sponsors and people without alternatives. The new Executive Directors must do something. I am sure they will earn some garlands at some point.

Trust is an essential quality. It is a valuable non-commodity asset. It is the diviner of promise and fulfilment. A government that succeeds is one which holds sufficient public trust and exerts itself considerably to keep it by delivering on its promises.

Introducing the consumer credit scheme was one of the foremost pledges of President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 presidential campaigns. The President had said: ‘’Corruption will be addressed when an individual does not need to have cash readily available to buy a vehicle, for instance, if there is a credit facility to finance it. Credit financing, in turn, will stimulate productivity and demand. We can, and we will. We will change the inefficiencies. We will drive Nigeria’s potential to delivery.’’

Within a few months after assuming office, President Tinubu went to work in fidelity to his promise. In April 2024, the President approved the take-off of the Consumer Credit Scheme with the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) as the institutional apparatus.

Today, the gestation of hope has reached parturition. CREDICORP has begun disbursement. And Nigerians from across diverse backgrounds and sectors, especially those in the essential service sector, are the latest beneficiaries. So far, the agency has disbursed over N3.5 billion with teachers, medical doctors, security officers, administrators, and workers in specialised services as the first beneficiaries.

The reason for this is obvious. This segment of workers forms the core of the nation’s workforce and provides essential services. But the credit blanket will spread further to cover the majority of Nigerians in subsequent phases as the scheme was conceived by President Tinubu for all Nigerians.

According to data by CREDICORP, credit was provided for a slew of needs, such as the procurement of petrol alternatives (solar panels, CNG conversion, tricycles), home improvements, school fees and medical needs, as well as the purchase of household items.  

The CREDICORP data also shows that over N1.5 billion has been disbursed to federal and state workers in the education sector; administrators in federal and state MDAs over N755 million; medical doctors in federal and state services over N600 million; police/paramilitary officers (police, civil defence, customs, immigration, and correctional service) over N367 million, and Nigerians in specialised services (judiciary, EFCC, ICPC, traffic authorities, environment) over N273 million.

Additionally, in the education sector, over 4,700 Nigerians are beneficiaries; in administration over 2,800; in health over 1,300; police/paramilitary over 1,260, and specialised services, over 750. More Nigerians are being enlisted as beneficiaries of this epochal scheme.

President Tinubu’s vision is to spread prosperity, create a robust credit system, strengthen the financial architecture, and empower Nigerians sustainably while removing the incentive for corruption.

In full apprehension of the concerns of citizens, the President Tinubu administration has sustained its interventions in critical sectors and directly in providing relief to vulnerable Nigerians. It is ratcheting up effort on social investment programmes to lift the most vulnerable population out of poverty. So far, additional payment has been made to about one million verified recipients under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) programme.

President Tinubu has remained true to his pledges. He pledged to introduce the student loan scheme to remove financial impediments to higher education for Nigerians. Today, this pledge is an actuality.

The President affirmed public good and trust as his motivation when he met with the Forum of Former Presiding Officers of the National Assembly, led by former Senate President Ken Nnamani at the Presidential Villa, on September 20.

 He said: ''I did not come to look for money and exploit the situation; I came to work. I asked for the votes, and Nigerians gave them to me."

President Tinubu is working for Nigerians.

Fredrick Nwabufo is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Engagement

The Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 polls, Peter Obi has urged Nigerians to seek a true independent Nation free from state Capture and end the unprecedented hardship and suffering.
"On this day, we must make a sober commitment to build a nation truly independent from the present state capture that has held it down in failure and has kept the people suffering.
Writing his Independent Day message on his X handle on Tuesday, the former Anambra State Governor said, "Anniversary celebrations, whether of an individual or country, provide opportunities to Reflect on memories, Celebrate accomplishments, look to the future, and offer gratitude.
"This is exactly what we are doing today as our dear nation marks its independence anniversary, 64 years since our country, Nigeria, took charge of its destiny and began its journey to development as an independent nation.

'It's a Day to appreciate God for lavishly endowing us with everything natural, human, and material to be a great nation.

"For me however, this day should be a day of sober reflection for every Nigerian, especially for us, the leaders, whose actions and inactions have continued to contribute to the retrogression and very visible failure we are all witnessing.

"An unexamined life, they say, is not worth living. We must, therefore, examine our lives in the light of our journey as a nation within these last 6 decades.

"Have we pulled our people out of poverty or have we thrown more people into poverty? Have we made education accessible to every Nigerian child, or have we raised an army of over 18 million out-of-school children roaming the streets? Have we built a productive economy, or have we built a nation with now the worst debt profile in our nation's history?

"On every measure of development, from the critical areas to every aspect, we are performing badly. From ranking poorly on safety and peacefulness to being one of the most terrorized countries in the world. From being ranked among the most highly corrupt countries in the world to being placed among the nations with gross disobedience to the rule of law. Our nation has continued its dangerous dance on the edge of a precipice.

"When compared with some countries who gained independence around the same time as ours, before and after us, Nigeria stands out as a failed nation that must be urgently rescued from further decadence.

"On this day, we must make a sober commitment to build a nation truly independent from the present state capture that has held it down in failure and has kept the people suffering. We must build a nation independent from tribal disunity and religious disharmony. We must build a New and Productive Nigeria that cares for the well-being of the people. That is the Independence we will celebrate as a nation, and it is POssible."

Signed
Ibrahim Umar
POMR SPOKESMAN
October 1st, 2024