THE NIGERIAN PRESS COUNCIL MANDATE
The Press Council acts as the buffer between the media and the public. It ensures the maintenance of the highest ethical and professional standards in the media. The functions of the NPC as set out in section 3 of its Act include the following:
· Enquire into complaints about the Press and the conduct of any person or
organization towards the Press;
· Monitor the activities of the Press with a view to ensuring compliance with the
Code of Professional and Ethical Conduct of the Nigeria Union of Journalists;
· Receive application from, and documenting the Print Media and monitoring their
performance to ensure that owners and publishers comply with the terms of their
mission statements and objectives in liaison with the Newspaper Proprietors
Association of Nigeria;
· Research into contemporary Press development and engage in updating Press
documentation;
· Review developments likely to restrict the flow of information and advise on
measures aimed at remedying such developments;
· Ensure the protection of the rights and privileges of journalists in the lawful
performance of their duties;
· Foster the achievement and maintenance of high professional standards by
the Nigerian Press
The Council is, therefore, statutorily expected to monitor the activities of the media. Essentially, this is performed through content analysis to ensure that the Code of Professional and Ethical Conduct is strictly adhered to.
The Council also reviews media laws, policies and programmes or developments perceived as hostile to the Press in its performance and advise on possible remedy.
The protection of the rights and privileges of Nigerian journalists is an integral component of the Press Council’s functions.