Section 22: Approval of qualifications and institutions

(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, the Council may approve for the purpose of section 19 of this Act-
(a) a course of training which is intended for persons who are seeking to become or are journalists and which the Council considers is designed to confer on persons completing it, sufficient knowledge and skill for the practice as members of the profession;
(b) any institution either in Nigeria, or elsewhere, which the Council considers is properly the whole or any part of a course of training approved by the Council under this section; and
(c) any qualification which, as a result of an examination taken in conjunction with the course of training approved by the Council under this section, is granted to candidates reaching a standard at the examination indicating, in the opinion of the Council that they have sufficient knowledge and skill to practice journalism as a profession.
(2) The Council shall, from time to time, publish in the Federal Gazette a list of qualifications in the profession of journalism approved by it, and subject thereto, the Council shall not approve for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section a qualification granted by an institution in Nigeria, unless the qualification has been so published by the Council.
(3) The Council may, if it thinks fit, withdraw any approval given under this section of this Act in respect of any course, qualification or institution; but before withdrawing such an approval the Council shall-
(a) give notice that it proposes to do so to persons in Nigeria appearing to the Council to be persons by whom the course is conducted or the qualification is granted or the institution is controlled, as the case may be; and
(b) afford each such person an opportunity of making to the Council representation with regard to the proposals; and
(c) take into consideration any representation made as respects the proposal to withdraw the approval.
(4) As respects any period during which the approval of the Council under this section for a course, institution or qualification is withdrawn, the course, or qualification or institution shall not be treated as approved under this section; but the withdrawal of such an approval shall not prejudice the registration or eligibility for registration of any person who by virtue of the approval was registered or was eligible for registration (either unconditionally or subject to his obtaining a certificate or experience) immediately before the approval was withdrawn.
(5) The giving or withdrawal of an approval under this section of this Act, shall have effect from such date after the execution of the instrument signifying the giving or withdrawal of the approval, as the Council may specify in that instrument; and the Council shall-
(a) as soon as possible, publish a copy of every such instrument in the Federal Gazette; and
(b) not later than seven days before its publication as aforesaid, send a copy of the instrument to the Minister.