The Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC) has kicked against the revocation of its license by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), saying KSMC had offset its debt of N22.4m from 2013 to 2020 to the Federal Government.
The Managing Director of KSMC, Ibrahim Samaila Ahmed, told Daily Trust on Friday that the corporation was in the process of paying its 2021 to 2022 bills to the federal government and should not have been named in the list of broadcast stations indebted to the government.
“I think it is disingenuous of NBC to include KSMC in the list of licensed broadcast stations that they said they have revoked. Why am I saying that? Only recently, in 2020, the Honourable Minister of Information gave a rebate to broadcast stations, that instead of paying 100 percent, he said he has given a rebate that broadcast stations can pay 40 percent and KSMC took advantage of that and paid from 2013 to 2020. KSMC paid N22.4m,” he said.
“At one time they (NBC) were citing KSMC as an example of a station that has cleared its debt and I am surprised that NBC is still keeping KSMC in its debtors list. I think it is disingenuous of them to come out with or even publish the name of KSMC on that list.”
The MD also faulted the commission for threatening broadcast stations with revocation of license at a time when insecurity is at its zenith, stressing that broadcast stations have been helping to douse tension in the country.
According to him, “Kaduna State has a responsible government and part of that responsibility was to settle from 2013 to 2020 and as I am speaking, the process is on to pay for 2021 and 2022 and it is already with the Planning and Budget Ministry. I am sure they are only waiting for cash backing and they will pay.”
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