Online news medium will now pay as much as N5 million for hate speech offences.
This is according to the Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed.
Mohammed said this on Thursday, October 10, while revealing that online news platforms will now be regulated.
Setting up a seven-man committee to implement reforms in the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mohammed said President Buhari had approved the upward review of fines from N500,000 to N5 million for hate speech offences as well as the amendment to the NBC act to enable it to license WebTv and radio stations, including foreign broadcasters beaming signals into the country.
He also said that there had been an upgrade of political comments relating to hate speech to “Class A” offence in the broadcasting code.
Speaking at the event, Lai Mohammed said: “The terms of reference of the committee are as follows; To establish and publish a new regulation for the licensing of web and internet broadcasters/international broadcasters in Nigeria.
“To immediately commence work on all statutory, legal and regulatory framework for further legislative action on the review of the NBC act by the national assembly.
“To work out the modalities for a competitive and reasonable salaries, wages and other welfare needs of the staff of the commission.
“To establish necessary protocols for the establishment or appointment of professionals or technocrats (non-partisan personality) to run the agency, and appointment into the board of the NBC.
“I have no doubt that this committee, which comprises highly-experienced professionals and administrators, will carry out a thorough job that will reposition the NBC as an effective and efficient regulator,” he added.
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