FG increases hate speech fine from N500k to N5m

The federal government has increased the fine for hate speech from N500,000 to 5 million naira.

This increase was made known in Lagos on Tuesday, August 4.

While unveiling the Reviewed Broadcasting Code, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said the amendments were necessitated by a Presidential directive, in the wake of the 2019 general elections, for an inquiry into the regulatory role of the National Broadcasting Commission as well as the conduct of the various broadcast stations before, during and after the elections.

The minister said the recommendations were approved by President Buhari to reposition the NBC to perform its regulatory role better mostly in the areas of political broadcasting, local content, coverage of emergencies, advertising, and anti-competitive behaviour.

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Asides the raise in hate speech fine, Mohammed Outlined other provisions made according to section 2h of the NBC Act.

“The provisions on Exclusivity and Monopoly will boost local content and local industry due to laws prohibiting exclusive use of rights by broadcasters who intend to create monopolies and hold the entire market to themselves. It will encourage Open Access to premium content.

“The law prohibiting backlog of advertising debts will definitely promote sustainability for the station owners and producers of content.

“The law on registration of Web Broadcasting grants the country the opportunity to regulate negative foreign broadcasts that can harm us as a nation. Such harms could be in the area of security, protection for minors, protection of human dignity, economic fraud, privacy etc.

“The provisions on responsibility of broadcast stations to devote airtime to national emergencies: This provision obviously mandates terrestrial and Pay TV channels to make their services available to Nigerians at time of national emergencies – like the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic – for their education and enlightenment.

“The provision raising the fine for hate speech from 500,000 Naira to 5 million Naira.”

Mohammed also said that the government mandated broadcast stations to devote airtime for public education and enlightenment on emergencies such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

Daily Times reports that Mohammed advised people who may feel uncomfortable about the amendments to meet with ”the regulator and present their views.”

“For those who still have misgivings about the amendment to the 6th Edition of the Code, we expect you to meet with the regulator and present your views. As I said, there are opportunities for constant review of the Code, but please note that this latest amendment is signed, sealed and delivered, and we are committed to making it work for the good of the country,” he said.