The Kano State Government is set to submit a position paper to the Senate Committee on Information as part of the ongoing move to review the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Act.
Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, spokesperson to Governor Abba KabirYusuf, made this disclosure, at the 2nd Annual National Conference and Induction Ceremony of the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters (SNB) held in Kano.
Bature said the memorandum was crafted after extensive consultations with media practitioners, legal experts, and civil society groups.
According to him, the document reflects Governor Yusuf’s conviction that Nigeria must reinforce its regulatory architecture to curb misinformation, unethical broadcasting, and the proliferation of unregulated online content, particularly in political and religious spaces.
“At the 2025 Africa Summit in Lagos, His Excellency challenged the NBC to set higher standards for censorship, review, and regulation of online content that continues to shape public opinion and sometimes inflame tensions in our society,” he noted.
He explained that the memorandum recommends stronger legislative measures in key areas, including regulation of digital broadcasting and online media platforms, ethical guidelines for religious and political content, protection for journalists and media workers, adoption of international best practices in the era of artificial intelligence, and stricter penalties for harmful or unprofessional broadcasts.
Bature said the governor’s active involvement in national media reforms demonstrates his commitment to nurturing a responsible, ethical, and future-focused broadcast industry.
He further highlighted Governor Yusuf’s track record in media development, which has earned him several national and international awards from bodies such as the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Leadership Newspapers, This Nigeria Newspapers, and African Heritage Magazine.
“These recognitions reflect the Governor’s unwavering support for journalists, his defence of press freedom, and his investment in human capital development,” Bature added.
He also cited key initiatives undertaken by the administration, including the 2025 budget’s prioritisation of media welfare, the presentation of an unprecedented N1.368 trillion 2026 budget with expanded communication development funding, and the sponsorship of Kano students for postgraduate studies in India, Malaysia, Dubai, Uganda, and other African countries.
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Additionally, he noted the revitalisation of three major media-related institutions— the Institute of Development Journalism at ARTV Headquarters, the Institute of Film Production, and the Institute of Information Technology in Kura — all now fully functional and training young citizens in journalism, film, digital media, and information technology.
Bature urged broadcasters across the country to maintain the highest ethical standards, stressing the central role of the media in shaping public opinion and promoting national unity.
“On behalf of His Excellency, I call on all media practitioners to rededicate themselves to professionalism and ethical practice. The future of our society depends significantly on the integrity of information,” he said.
He later declared the 2025 SNB Annual Conference and Induction Ceremony open on behalf of Governor Yusuf, commending the organisation for its contributions to professionalism in the broadcasting industry.
