NCC asks COSON to comply with directives or face sanctions

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has asked the Governing Board of the Copyright Society of Nigeria, (COSON) to comply with its directives regarding the disputed chairmanship of the organisation or face sanction. This was contained in a statement signed by the director general of the NCC, Afam Ezekude, and made available to newsmen in Lagos […]

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has asked the Governing Board of the Copyright Society of Nigeria, (COSON) to comply with its directives regarding the disputed chairmanship of the organisation or face sanction.

This was contained in a statement signed by the director general of the NCC, Afam Ezekude, and made available to newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday.

According to the NCC boss, the Commission had earlier directed the management of COSON as follows:

“a. Not to give effect to resolutions taken at the Extraordinary General Meeting held on 19th December, 2017, except the resolution on distribution of royalties to members, which was within the legitimate process of the meeting;

b. To convene its annual General meeting (AGM) within 60 working days and elect Directors/Governing Board in line with the provisions of its articles of association; taking into account the relevant articles in respect of qualification of directors;

c. To appoint a competent Professional who shall henceforth be the Company Secretary/Secretary of the Governing Board.”

Ezekude said: “the Commission has also noted with concern that its directive issued to the Management of COSON in respect of the purported resolutions at the Extraordinary General meeting held on December 19, 2017 has not been complied with by management of COSON.

“Instead, some members of COSON have taken to social media platforms to peddle falsehood as well as other negative campaign against the person of the Director General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Mr. Afam Ezekude.”

The statement further reads: “The development in its entirety does not augur well for the development of copyright administration in Nigeria. Aside undermining the efficient administration of COSON, the development affects right owners who may as a result be denied their legitimate royalties and sound protection of their rights.

“The ongoing rivalry in the COSON Board, will, without any doubt, hamper its effective performance on its primary mandate of licensing and collecting royalties. The essence of collective management is to bring the benefit of the copyright system to right owners.

“Moreover, as COSON is also a member of a number of international copyright organizations, the situation will not only expose COSON, but the entire Nigerian Copyright system to ridicule and embarrassment.

“The main function of COSON as a collective management organization is to negotiate and issue licenses to users of musical works and sound recordings in Nigeria, collect royalties (money) for such licenses and distribute the monies collected to the owners of copyright in the works which it manages. The monies that COSON collects belong to owners of copyright in music and sound recordings who are both Nigerians and foreign right owners. COSON is accordingly in a position of trust vis-à-vis its members.

“As a result of this unique status, the Copyright Act, Chapter C 28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and the Copyright (Collective Management Organization) Regulation 2007 make extensive provisions to regulate the operations of organizations that operate as collective management organizations, including COSON.

“As a responsible agency of government, with a clear mandate under the law, the Commission will not allow unnecessary rivalry and personality clashes, which seemingly fuelled the present conflict at COSON, to interfere with the rights of Nigerian Creators to have their rights managed in a transparent and credible manner. Consequently, the Commission shall take appropriate steps to ensure that the directive given to management of COSON is duly implemented.”