NELFUND Misinformation: Presidential Aide Ogra Asks NBC To Address Declining Broadcast Standards
Senior Presidential Aide O’tega Ogra has called on the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to address what he labelled as a worrying decline in Nigerian broadcast journalism standards.
Ogra’s call follows a recent television interview on a major network where he alleges that speculation surrounding the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) was presented to the public as verified fact.
In an official notice to the NBC, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Digital and New Media noted that the broadcast crossed the line from robust journalism into misinformation. He added that media houses bear a strict responsibility to clearly separate facts from allegations and opinions, especially when dealing with public institutions and public funds.
“Opinion is not fact,” Ogra pointed out. “When claims concerning public funds are broadcast, stations have a responsibility to establish their accuracy. Easily verifiable assertions were allowed to stand during the interview without sufficient evidence, proper challenge, or adequate context.”
Warning that standards are slipping across the industry, Ogra reminded the regulator that the Nigeria Broadcasting Code exists precisely to preserve the line between conjecture and reality.
He further disclosed that he has prepared a detailed memorandum for the NBC. According to him, the document outlines specific breaches and practices he believes are damaging the industry, aiming to spark a broader conversation on responsible broadcasting.
