The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has condemned the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for banning radio and television stations from airing “Tell Your Papa,” a song by rapper-activist Eedris Abdulkareem.
MRA, in a statement sent to WikkiTimes on Friday, described the move as an unconstitutional crackdown on free expression.
In a directive dated April 9, 2025, the NBC ordered all broadcasters to cease airing the track, citing violations of Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which restricts content classified as “Not To Be Broadcast” (NTBB).
The commission, through its Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Susan Obi, claimed the song’s “objectionable nature” made it unfit for public dissemination.
However, the MRA condemned the ban as a “blatant abuse of regulatory power” and a violation of constitutional and international human rights protections.
The MRA accused the NBC of exploiting vague provisions in the Broadcasting Code to suppress dissent.
“The NBC’s directive is a dangerous affront to freedom of expression,” said Ayomide Eweje, MRA’s Programme Officer. She argued that Section 3.1.8 of the Code lacks clear criteria for banning content, calling it a “nebulous” rule that enables arbitrary censorship. “This is not regulation—it’s repression,” Eweje stated.
The MRA emphasized that the ban contravenes Section 39 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, as well as binding international treaties like the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Eweje stressed that artists like Abdulkareem have a right to critique governance and amplify public sentiment, warning that the NBC’s actions risk eroding democratic freedoms.
“The commission is confusing its role as an independent regulator with that of a government propaganda arm,” Eweje added, urging the NBC to immediately rescind the ban.
She called on media stakeholders and civil society to resist what she described as an effort to “muzzle uncomfortable truths.”
The controversial song, which addresses themes of political accountability, has sparked debate over the limits of artistic expression under Tinubu’s administration.
The MRA reiterated its commitment to defending citizens’ rights to “impart ideas without fear of censorship or reprisals,” signaling potential legal challenges to the directive.
The NBC has yet to respond publicly to the criticism.
Eedris Abdulkareem, known for his politically charged lyrics, previously stirred controversy in 2004 with his track “Jaga Jaga,” which criticized socioeconomic inequality.
“Tell Your Papa” continues his tradition of confrontational commentary, though its specific content remains undisclosed by authorities.
