SECTOR 3 The boards and management of all three federal broadcasting services are appointed by the president, usually based on the proposal of the Minister of Information. The law requires that board members come from a range of sectors, but actors in those sectors have no control over who is appointed. Once appointed, the board reports to the president through the Minister of Information. Panellists said there is no legal foundation for public accountability. At the state level, the boards of state-government-funded broadcasting services are even less accountable to the public. Panellists said board members pay allegiance only to state governors, whom they consider their employers. Many attempts by the public to hold government-funded broadcasters accountable have not succeeded. At one time, panellists said, a civic-societybacked listeners’ association was created but quickly fizzled out. The broadcasting code provides for public hearings of complaints, but they are not well-organised. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: Score of previous years: ✓✓✓ ✓✓✓✓✓ ✓ ✓✓ 1.6 2008: 1.2; 2011: 1.1; 2015: 1.8 3.5 The editorial independence of the state/public broadcaster from political influence is guaranteed by law and practised to ensure balanced and fair news and current affairs programmes Both federal and state authorities view government-funded broadcasters as tools for the advancement of the government’s agenda. Therefore, journalists in these stations understand that their job includes protecting the interest of the state. Under these conditions, panellists said, it is hard for governmentfunded broadcasting services to deliver balanced and fair news or commentaries. Panellists describe situations where journalists have been reprimanded for reporting public interest stories that embarrassed the authorities. Authorities usually fill positions in the boards and managements of NTA, FRCN, VON and state broadcasting services with candidates from the ruling party. Such politically charged appointments often sway news coverage in favour of the party in power, whether at the state or federal level. Additionally, there was shared agreement among panellists that government-funded broadcasting 40 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NIGERIA 2019