Abuja: Dr Dili Ezughah, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), affirmed the organization’s dedication to fulfilling its mandate of improving the standards of the print media and providing training for journalists. Ezughah made these remarks during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the NPC was established under the NPC Act, CAP N128, Laws of the Federation 2004, with the purpose of promoting high professional standards for the Nigerian Press. The Council’s responsibilities include addressing complaints from the public regarding unethical conduct of journalists and unethical publications.
Ezughah outlined the process for handling complaints, emphasizing that individuals must first bring any grievances about offensive publications to the attention of the media house involved. If unsatisfied, complaints can be escalated to the NPC. The Council then involves its Legal and Adjudication Unit, and if necessary, a board, to mediate and attempt resolution. However, the NPC refrains from acting if the media house retracts the article, issues an apology, or if the matter is sub judice.
Between 2023 and 2025, the Council received seven complaints from the public concerning unethical publications. In its pursuit of ethical compliance, the NPC has conducted workshops for journalists across several regions, including Bauchi for North East, Karu for North Central, and Lagos for South West, with plans to extend these workshops to other regions by year-end.
The NPC’s workshops aim to instill ethical compliance among media professionals. Ezughah emphasized the importance of adhering to journalistic ethics to prevent complaints arising from breaches of accuracy, objectivity, and balance. Since its inception, the Council has consistently organized training programs focusing on ethical journalism, striving to uphold high professional standards within the industry.