The Federal Government has offered 60 per cent debt forgiveness to defaulting radio and TV stations.
Recall that the affected stations are indebted to the Federal Government to the tune of N7.8billion.
According to the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, all affected stations the stations have a three-month timeline to enjoy the debt reprieve.
Mohammed stated this before the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba during a press briefing.
His words: “According to the National Commission (NBC), many
Nigerian radio and television stations remain indebted to the Federal Government to the tune of N7.8billion Naira in total.
” Also, many of the stations are faced with the reality that their licenses will not be
renewed, in view of their indebtedness.
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” Against this background, the management of the NBC has therefore recommended, and the Federal Government has accepted, the following measures to revamp the Broadcast Industry and to help reposition it for the challenges of business, post-COVID-19:-
” a) – 60 per cent debt forgiveness for all debtor broadcast stations in the country.
” b)◦ The criterion for enjoying the debt forgiveness is for debtor stations to pay 40 per cent of their existing debt within the next three months
“c) -Any station that is unable to pay the balance of 40 per cent indebtedness within the 3 months window shall forfeit the opportunity to enjoy the stated debt forgiveness.”
On palliatives for the print media, the Minister said “we are already discussing with the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN)