The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) has commended the Federal Government for granting 60 per cent waiver to the broadcast stations, to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry.
Mrs Sa’a Ibrahim, the Chairperson of the organisation, made the commendation at a media parley tagged: “Meet the Media,” organised by the Kano State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), on Friday in Kano.
Ibrahim, who is also the Director-General, Kano State Government-owned media outfit, Abubakar Rimi Television (ARTV), said the pandemic exposed the broacasting stations to serious operating challenges.
She said: “The Federal Government granted 60 per cent waiver to broadcast stations, the stations are also expected to pay for the remaining 40 per cent.
“BON is not satisfied until the waiver is accomplished by 100 per cent,” she said.
According to her, the broadcasting industry is operating under difficult condition since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country.
Ibrahim noted that broadcasting stations found it difficult to cope with financial obligations due to the pandemic, which crippled economic activities.
She stated that the situation had compelled BON to advocate for a total waiver to the broadcasting organisations.
The chairperson said the gesture was in appreciation of the contributions played by the broadcasting industry in providing employment opportunities to the youths in the country.
Commenting on the campaign against the pandemic, Ibrahim said: “as professionals worth their onions, the press are solidly on ground.
“The journalists risk their lives in gathering and disseminating information during the pandemic.
“Journalists also battle with lack of adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which make their jobs tedious and risky, in terms of effective service delivery, hence, prone to infection.”
Ibrahim further said that her organisation was still waiting for the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), to come up with a clear roadmap on the digitalisation of the broadcasting stations.
She noted that the process would fast track digital switch over of the broadcasting stations in the country.
