CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
Radio and television are essential organs for national development and should therefore be used for the promotion of Nigerian’s cultural, economic and political development. As the media utilizes the airwaves, which belong to the public, the broadcasting media should be used to improve and promote unity and security of the people of the nations. There is need for a body that will regulate their operations. While this body is expected to have controlling powers over the broadcasting media; it shall at least provide operational code that will prevent the abuse of the media.
On 24th AWugust, 1992, the then military president, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, signed into law, Decree No 38 which allows private participation in broadcasting. This was done through the establishment of the National Broadcasting Commission. Decree No 38 authorized the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to issue license and regulate broadcasting in Nigeria. This is why every transmission of sound and vision either by cable, television, radio, satellite or any medium of broadcasting from anywhere in the country is subjected to its authority.
However, the broadcasting media like the other media of mass communication must be geared towards national unity. Without a national policy that provides clear guidelines for other operations the broadcast media may not play their proper role in the growth and development of the nation? 
This is why there is need for a body like NBC which is the sole chartered organization with power to regulate broadcasting in all its activities.
NBC was, among other things, empowered and designed to carry out these functions:
• Setting up standard on acceptable content and quality of broadcast content in Nigeria.
• Seizing transmission equipment or withdrawing licenses where necessary, should any broadcast media breach the NBC code.
• Upholding the principle of equity and fairness on broadcasting.
Section 3.1.1 of the Federal Commissions Act authorized the National Broadcasting Commission to withhold the licenses of stations indicated for violating the NBC code.
COMING OF TELEVISION BROADCASTING IN NIGERIA
Television came to Nigeria for the first time (though experimentally) in 1956, when Queen Elizabeth 11 came to Nigeria in that year, the BBC came with a large contingent. The BBC placed TV screens outside the assembly hall to enable those outside the gallery of the house to watch what was happening.
Nigeria takes credit as the pacesetter in regard to television broadcasting. That notwithstanding, television broadcasting started in Nigeria as a result of intense political and ethnic rivalry. Precisely, the first television in Nigeria was the Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), Ibadan. It is thus readily clear that the colonial masters did not make much use of television during the period of colonialism in Nigeria.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo established the WNTV. He had earlier sought permission for access to the government owned NBS so that he would reply to the allegation of act of perfidy levelled against him by the colonial masters.
Therefore, the actual grievance that eventually gave rise to regional broadcasting dates back to 1953 constitutional crisis which brought Chief Awolowo , leader of the Action Group, into a head-on clash with the then Governor of Nigeria, Sir John Macpherson.
Chief Awolowo was said to have made uncomplimentary statements in the legislature during parliamentary debate on Nigeria’s independence. As a result, the Governor made a broadcast to the nation and made allusions to Chief Awolowo and his party, charging them with perfidy. Awolowo’s reaction was a request for ‘’equal time’’ from the NBS to reply the Governor’s remarks. The request was turned down. The refusal ignited desires in Awolowo to establish a broadcast station, a move critic described as bogus and wasteful. Awolowo then took the bold step, under the aegis of the Western Nigeria government. In May 1959, the government in partnership with the Overseas Rediffusion Company Limited started the Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service.
The Western Nigeria venture sparked off a desire for radio television establishment in the regions.
Eastern Nigeria established its own station called the Eastern Nigeria Television (ENTV), in 1960, and so did Northern Nigeria in 1962 with the establishment of radio and television in Kaduna.