The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), Dr. Dili Ezughah, has reiterated the Council’s dedication to upholding professionalism in the print media and ensuring continuous training for journalists across the country.
Speaking in Abuja, Ezughah explained that the NPC was established under the NPC Act, CAP N128, Laws of the Federation 2004. According to him, the Council’s core responsibility is to promote and maintain high professional standards within Nigeria’s press industry.
He noted that one of the Council’s major roles is to address complaints from the public concerning unethical conduct by journalists or objectionable publications. The Council is also mandated to investigate any actions that obstruct the work of journalists or the free flow of information.
Ezughah outlined the formal process for lodging complaints. He stated that individuals must first alert the concerned media organisation to any offensive publication. If the issue remains unresolved, the complainant can then escalate the matter to the NPC.
Upon receiving a complaint, the Council forwards it to its Legal and Adjudication Unit—or to the Board when constituted—to facilitate mediation. In many cases, he said, issues are resolved amicably through retractions or apologies. However, if a matter is already before a court, the NPC does not intervene.
He stressed that the Council remains committed to sanitising the print media and reducing unethical practices to the bare minimum. Between 2023 and 2025, the NPC received seven formal complaints regarding unethical publications.
Ezughah also highlighted the Council’s training efforts across different regions of the country. Workshops have been organised for journalists in Bauchi (North East), Karu (North Central), and Lagos (South West), with plans to cover other regions before the end of the year.
According to him, the purpose of these workshops is to strengthen journalists’ adherence to ethical standards, including accuracy, objectivity, and balance. He emphasised that most complaints arise when reporters fail to follow these principles.
Since its inception, the NPC has consistently trained and retrained journalists to ensure they understand and comply with professional ethics. Ezughah affirmed that this commitment will continue in order to enhance public trust and promote responsible journalism.