Voice of Nigeria has appealed to the National Assembly to be included in the collection of Digital Access Fees in the implementation of the on-going government digital broadcast policy.
The Director General Voice of Nigeria Mr. Osita Okechukwu made the appeal in Abuja at the public hearing on the Bill for an act to amend the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Act 2004.
Mr. Okechukwu explained that the fact that VON does not have advertisement in line with its establishment act, giving it the opportunity to collect such fees would boost the agency’s revenue base.
“On behalf of Voice of Nigeria management and staff appealed that we are included in the Digital Access Fees. Because we were omitted heavily, especially when our sisters agencies; the Nigerian Television Authority and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria were handsomely captured and obliged ten percent (10%).”
“We are appealing because we are supposed to be the BBC of Nigeria, the Voice of America of Nigeria and we are trying to upgrade our services to compete favorably with our colleagues and by law we are not allowed to generate funds or collect advert.
So it will not be fair if a child is not treated like the other children. So we humbly appealed that we are included and allocated ten percent as our sister agencies.” Mr. Okechukwu argued.
The proposed amendment was to strengthen the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission for effective and efficient in regulating the Broadcast Industry in Nigeria.
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