SERAP, Editors Sue NBC Over Threat to Sanction Broadcasters

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have gone to court to stop the National Broadcasting Commission from clamping down on broadcasters who dare to express opinions on air.

The lawsuit, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos as suit number FHC/L/CS/854/2026, challenges what SERAP and NGE call an “arbitrary, unconstitutional, and unlawful ‘Formal Notice'” from the NBC. The notice threatened to sanction broadcast stations and presenters for “expressing personal opinions as facts, bullying or intimidating guests, or failing to maintain neutrality.”

What the NBC said — and why that’s the problem

The NBC had cited what it called “a sustained increase in breaches of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code across news, current affairs, and political programmes.” Its proposed remedy: sanction any broadcaster who steps out of line.

SERAP and NGE are asking the court to rule that the relevant provisions of the Broadcasting Code are vague, overly broad, and inconsistent with both Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution and its international human rights commitments. They also want an interim injunction blocking the NBC from imposing any sanctions while the case is heard.

Their central argument is that the NBC’s threat forces broadcasters to self-censor. “Unless the reliefs sought are granted, the NBC will continue to use the provisions of the 6th Edition of the Broadcasting Code to threaten and sanction broadcast stations and presenters solely for carrying out their constitutional responsibilities and exercising their rights,” they argued in the suit.

Why this matters now

Nigeria’s broadcast space has grown more politically charged in the lead-up to 2027 elections. The NBC’s move to put a leash on opinion-driven programming — however it’s framed — lands in that context. Editors and civil society groups read it as a warning shot aimed at keeping the airwaves compliant.

The court will determine whether the Broadcasting Code provisions hold up against constitutional scrutiny. Until then, the interim injunction request is the one to watch. If granted, it would effectively freeze the NBC’s ability to act on the notice while the case plays out.

Sources: SERAP Nigeria, Premium Times, The Guardian