The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) has called on all licensed broadcasting stations that have not yet paid their 2025 annual operating fees to settle their dues by March 31.
In a statement issued by its Corporate Communication Department yesterday, the Authority revealed that out of the 191 stations currently licensed, 33 had not yet fulfilled their statutory payment obligations. The IBA emphasized that failure to pay the required annual fees constitutes a violation of Section 22 (5)(c) of the IBA (Amendment) Act No. 26 of 2010, which mandates licensed stations to remit fees every January.
“These fees are due in January each year,” the statement read.
The Authority added that it had recently conducted hearings with the defaulting stations to give them an opportunity to present their cases. Following these engagements, the IBA has decided to grant a 14-day grace period, allowing the affected stations until March 31 to clear their outstanding payments.