The federal government has placed on hold all upward reviews of broadcast licence fees.
Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, announced the decision on Monday in Abuja during a meeting with a delegation of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), led by its chairman, Tony Akiotu.
The suspension followed concerns raised by broadcasters over the financial pressure facing media organisations, particularly the increasing cost of running broadcasting stations across the country.
Idris said the government had directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to stop all licence-related reviews until further notice.
“Any increase in licence fees is hereby put on hold. All reviews relating to licences are suspended until further notice. I am directing the NBC to ensure strict compliance while we review the situation,” the minister said.
The minister also announced plans to address other concerns affecting the sector, including the review of the National Broadcasting Code.
He directed the NBC director-general to accelerate work on the review, saying the existing regulatory framework must reflect changes in the broadcasting industry and respond to emerging realities.
The minister also promised to convene a meeting of industry stakeholders to resolve outstanding issues surrounding the Digital Switch-Over (DSO), a transition designed to move television broadcasting from analogue to digital transmission.
Idris said he had instructed the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) to ensure that the 45-day payment period for advertising services was fully implemented.
He added that the ministry would engage relevant stakeholders to examine complaints about limited access to affordable financing and difficulties surrounding spectrum allocation.
Speaking at the meeting, Akiotu commended the minister for his earlier intervention during the June 2026 launch of the Digital Switch-Over programme.
He said the stakeholders’ meeting organised by the minister at the time helped address concerns about ensuring a fair operating environment for players in the broadcasting industry.
Akiotu identified the review of the National Broadcasting Code, licence fees, increasing operating expenses, access to financing, spectrum allocation and the enforcement of the 45-day advertising payment arrangement as major issues requiring urgent attention.
“BON believes in dialogue, consultation and mediation to prevent a breakdown of industrial harmony in the broadcasting industry. We are grateful for your personal intervention during the DSO launch and seek your continued support in addressing the challenges affecting our members,” he said.
Idris, in his remarks, described the broadcasting industry as an important part of Nigeria’s democratic system, noting its role in informing citizens, strengthening national unity and promoting access to credible information.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, he urged broadcast organisations to maintain professional standards, ensure fairness in their reporting and uphold the ethics of journalism.
He stressed that freedom of expression must be accompanied by responsibility, warning broadcasters against publishing unverified information under the guise of journalism.
“Freedom of expression must go with responsibility. You cannot simply say anything and claim to be practising journalism. Journalism has standards, procedures and ethics,” Idris said.
He urged media organisations to ensure their reports are factual and contribute to peaceful coexistence.
