FG To Order NBC To Compel TV Stations On Use Of Sign Language Interpreters In News Programs

The Albino Foundation Public Notice

By Ruby Leo

The Federal Government has said it would direct the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to mandate all public and private television stations to enlist the services of sign language interpreters during their major news broadcast to accommodate persons with disabilities.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, gave the directive in Abuja at the 2021 Annual Lecture of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) organized in collaboration with the Albinism Foundation, the European Union (EU), Sight Savers, Americare and Medicaid.

The lecture was themed “The Imperative of Disability Inclusion in National Transformation” wherein the minister made the recommendation to address the complaint of a participant at the event, Ms Monsurat Abdulwasiu, who is hard of hearing.

Abdulwasiu, a former Leader of Abuja Association of the Deaf, Women’s Wing, who spoke through a sign interpreter, said that they suffered exclusion because they just stared at pictures during news hour without knowing what they were saying.

“Only the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) has a sign language interpreter during one of its news hours.

“In the other media platforms, there are no sign language interpreters even in the healthcare sector, no sign language in Nigerian hospitals.

“So, what happens to deaf people when they are reading news and when they are sick and go to hospital.

“Does it means that we are not entitled to information and healthcare? The government needs to look into this,” she said.

Responding, Mohammed said:  “I am very touched by the contribution of the young lady who said there is need for sign interpreter during the network news and other major news belts.