FG halts broadcast licence fee increases, moves to resolve DSO dispute

Broadcast organisations in Nigeria have secured a temporary reprieve from proposed licence fee increases following a directive by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, suspending all reviews of broadcast licence charges indefinitely.

The Minister also tasked the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) with reopening discussions on the lingering challenges surrounding Nigeria’s Digital Switch Over (DSO), directing the Commission’s Director-General to bring industry stakeholders together for immediate consultations.

The decisions were announced on Monday in Abuja during a meeting with the leadership and members of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), who used the occasion to present concerns over the difficult operating environment facing media organisations.

With broadcasters contending with escalating operational expenses, BON had called for government intervention on several issues, including licence charges, financing, spectrum allocation, the National Broadcasting Code and delayed payments for advertising services.

Responding to the concerns, Idris made it clear that no further adjustments to broadcast licence fees should take place while the government reviews the situation.

He also called for an accelerated review of the National Broadcasting Code, while promising that the Ministry would engage relevant stakeholders on the industry’s financial and operational difficulties.

On advertising payments, the Minister disclosed that the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) had already received instructions to enforce the 45-day payment window for advertising services.

Idris, however, reminded media organisations that their responsibilities extend beyond reporting events, particularly with the 2027 general elections approaching.

He called for greater adherence to journalistic ethics, accuracy and responsible communication, warning against the spread of unverified information.

The Minister stressed that press freedom must be accompanied by professional discipline, with broadcasters expected to contribute to national cohesion and peaceful coexistence.

BON Chairman, Senior High Chief Dr. Tony Akiotu, had earlier acknowledged the Minister’s previous intervention during the June 2026 DSO launch, describing the engagement as an important step towards addressing concerns about fairness and equal opportunities in the broadcasting industry.

Akiotu said the association favoured dialogue and consultation as the preferred means of resolving disagreements that could threaten industrial harmony.

He appealed for continued government support in tackling the challenges confronting broadcasters, particularly the cost of operations and regulatory policies affecting their businesses.

The meeting followed BON’s 82nd General Assembly in Calabar, Cross River State, which Idris congratulated the association on successfully organising.

He assured the delegation that the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation would maintain consultations with industry operators to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing the sector.