PROTOCOLS
Let me formally welcome the Chairperson and the other officials and representatives of the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON) to this meeting. I am aware that you have been trying to meet with me for some time now but, as you are also aware, the activities of the
Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, of which I am a member, have kept me very busy. I apologize for that.
2. I have listened to your presentation and I must say it is very comprehensive and well articulated.
3. I make bold to say that while BON members have been hit hard by the effects of the current pandemic, they are not alone. In fact, the entire Creative Industry, which also covers the Broadcast Industry, has been affected by the pandemic that has inflicted extensive damage on the economy of nations across the world,
4. We have therefore decided that instead of addressing these problems piecemeal, we should do so holistically for a more positive outcome.
Let me stress here that the Creative Industry is a very critical sector of the nation’s economy and a major plank of the economic diversification policy of this Administration. It creates the highest number of jobs after Agriculture, especially for the youth.
5. Therefore, there is no doubt that we need a collective and government-supported approach in dealing with the immediate, short and long term palliatives and initiatives for the industry, in order to mitigate the effect of the pandemic on the sector.
6. The Government has therefore decided to set up a committee of industry stakeholders to look into and advise it on the best way to
mitigate the effect of the pandemic on the industry.
7. Before I announce the Terms of Reference of the Committee, let me say that in the interim, I want to announce that I have approved the request by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to grant a two-month licence fee waiver for terrestrial broadcast stations in Nigeria. I want to put on record that the NBC has sent protective equipment to some Community Broadcast Stations across the country.
8 Now back to the Committee. The
Terms of Reference are:
– Assess the expected impact of the pandemic on the industry in general
– Advise the Government on how to mitigate job and revenue losses in the sector as well as to create succour for the industry small
businesses
– Suggest the type of taxation and financing that is best for the industry at this time to encourage growth
– Advise the Government on any other measure or measures that can be undertaken to support the industry.
9. The members of the Committee are:
1. Alli Baba – Comedy, Film and TV (Chairman)
2. Bolanle Austen Peters – Film and Performing Arts (TerraKulture)
3. Charles Novia – Television and Independent Producer(TeenTV)
4. Segun Arinze- Actor and Producer
5. Ali Jita – Actor and Musician
6. Baba Agba – Film Director (BCI Studios)
7. Kene Okwuosa – Cinema and Distribution (Filmhouse)
8. Efe Omoregbe – Record label and Collective rights management
(Hypertek/Now Muzik)
9. Prince Daniel Aboki – Radio and Film (CoolFM/WaZoBia)
10. Chioma Ude – Streaming (Envivo)
11. Olumade Adesemowo – Television and Platform (FreeTV)
12. Dare Art Alade – Livespot Entertainment
13. Hajia Sa’a Ibrahim – Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON)
14. Anita Eboigbe – News Agency of Nigeria (Secretary)
10 We are still expecting the representatives of the Fashion, Publishing, Photography as well as Hospitality and Travel sectors
11. The Committee has four weeks from today to submit its report
12 On this note, I want to once again thank the Chairperson and other members of her entourage for this meeting. I have no doubt that the concerns you have raised at this meeting, on behalf of all BON I members, will be addressed satisfactorily by the Committee.
13. I thank you all for your kind attention.
