Bill Making Educational Contents Compulsory In TV Channels Passes 2nd Reading In Reps

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed through second reading a Bill seeking an amendment to National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Act.

The amendment among others seeks to make educational programmes compulsory on all television channels in Nigeria, with a view to grooming the young one in the art of electronic learning.

The Bill Co-sponsored by Honourable Odebunmi Olusegun (APC, Oyo) and James Abiodun Faleke (APC, Lagos) also seeks to amend the third schedule of NBC Act thereby providing that every television/radio or cable or station provider shall have education programme wherein students will be taught different subject or courses in line with school syllabuses or curriculum.

In his submission, Hon. Faleke said, “it is an effort to tackle and salvage the falling standard of education which is currently a national concern and embarrassment”.

“If amended, all television/radio service providers such as MultiChoice (DSTV) Star Times, NTA and others will be legally compelled to dedicate one or more channels to the educational programmes.

“The Bill is aimed at making a lot of differences to the lives of students and is expected that qualified teachers will be engaged by the service provided to teach our pupils online/ visuals,” he argued.

Other contributors to the Bill include Reps Mohammed Monguno, APC, Borno, China Adamu, APC, Niger, Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbinayinma, APC, Edo, Chris Azubuogu, PDP, Anambra they all agreed that the Bill came at the most auspicious time.

When it was put to a voice vote by the presiding officer. Yakubu Dogara, the ayes unanimously endorsed it.