The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are set to introduce a joint broadcast monitoring framework ahead of the 2027 general elections as part of efforts to curb unethical broadcasting practices and promote responsible election coverage across Nigeria.
The initiative is expected to strengthen oversight of election-related broadcasts and improve compliance with the Nigeria Broadcasting Code throughout the electoral process.
The Director-General of the NBC, Charles Ebuebu, disclosed the development in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
According to Ebuebu, the commission has already initiated discussions with INEC to establish a coordinated monitoring system that will enhance the regulation of election broadcasts nationwide.
He explained that the growing influence of digital media and online broadcasting platforms makes collaboration between regulatory agencies more necessary than ever.
“We have written to INEC, and we are going to have a joint monitoring outlook over the elections.
“Gone are the days where agencies work in silos. When we coordinate, we’re able to monitor more effectively,” he said.
Ebuebu stated that the partnership would enable both agencies to jointly identify and address violations instead of operating independently during the election period.
He added that the NBC is also expanding its collaboration with other government institutions responsible for regulating digital communications and information technology.
According to him, the commission is finalising agreements with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to strengthen election monitoring across conventional and digital platforms.
“We are calling in other stakeholders to reinforce the election monitoring.
“We are signing agreements with the Nigerian Communications Commission and the National Information Technology Development Agency before the elections,” he said.
The NBC Director-General further disclosed that the commission is upgrading its monitoring infrastructure by deploying artificial intelligence-powered tools capable of tracking the rapidly expanding broadcast environment.
He noted that the increasing number of online broadcasting platforms requires technology-driven monitoring rather than relying solely on human personnel.
“With online platforms, there are thousands of them.
“You need more than staff; you need AI monitoring facilities,” he stated.
Ebuebu revealed that the NBC has already enhanced its monitoring capabilities and can currently track nearly 50 broadcast channels simultaneously from its monitoring centre in Abuja.
He added that additional monitoring facilities would be established across different parts of the country to improve nationwide surveillance in line with emerging technological developments in broadcasting.
The commission also plans to organise a sensitisation workshop in Ibadan involving broadcasters, INEC officials, security agencies and other critical stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to Ebuebu, the workshop is necessary because election-related discussions have increasingly become more heated, including on television and other electronic media platforms.
He observed that some broadcasters often disregard established professional standards during election periods, making continuous engagement and reminders about the provisions of the broadcasting code essential.
“We have had to write several of them because they simply forget what the code says,” he said.
The NBC boss assured Nigerians that the commission would continue strengthening regulatory compliance and monitoring mechanisms to ensure responsible broadcasting before, during and after the 2027 general elections.
