Nigeria’s media space is under fresh scrutiny as the Nigeria Union of Journalists has described a recent directive by the National Broadcasting Commission as a “veiled attempt to gag the media and institutionalise censorship,” raising concerns over press freedom.

The NBC had warned broadcasters about what it called rising violations of the sixth edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, particularly across news and political programmes. It cautioned that presenters who express personal opinions as facts or bully guests on air risk sanctions.

Reacting in a statement signed by its National Secretary, Achike Chude, the NUJ said it viewed the directive with “grave concern and utter disappointment,” arguing that it threatens free speech and editorial independence.

The union maintained that restricting how anchors analyse issues amounts to “direct interference in the internal editorial processes of independent media houses.”

“Journalism, particularly in the realm of current affairs and political analysis, requires robust engagement,” the statement reads.

“To strip presenters of their right to analyse and contextualise news is to reduce the Nigerian media to a mere mouthpiece.”

The NUJ also warned that vague provisions in the code, including sanctions classified as “Class B breaches,” could intimidate journalists and discourage critical reporting.

“This regime of fear encourages self-censorship, where journalists are too afraid to ask tough questions for fear of being labelled ‘unprofessional’ or ‘hostile’ by a regulatory body that has increasingly become a political tool,” the statement added.

Citing Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, the union stressed that freedom of expression must not be undermined.