The Creative Economy Commission Bill, which has passed first reading at the upper chamber in Nigeria, is expected to open up the entertainment sector as a steady and reliable source of revenue for Nigeria.
According to a statement released last Wednesday, Senator Ishaku Abbo, (Adamawa North Senatorial District) who sponsored the bill, the need to make the sector more viable and beneficial for all operators as well as generate revenue for the country has become pertinent.
Abbo, who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Creative Economy, argued that, if passed into law, the commission is expected to look into disputes within the entertainment Industry, like the type between Artistes and Record labels.
More importantly, he disclosed that the commission would be to the entertainment industry what the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) are to the telecommunications and broadcasting industries, respectively.
“I am sponsoring the bill and it is a bill that is dear to me. It is a bill for an Act to establish Creative Economy Commission (CEC) in a bill number 2023 SB 124.
“The bill will open up the entertainment sector as a stable and reliable revenue and employment source for Nigeria through the development of entertainment hubs in each state in Nigeria.
”It will also be a regulatory body for the entertainment industry like we have NCC in telecommunications industry and NBC in broadcasting industry.
“The Commission will also look into disputes within entertainment Industry such as disputes between Artistes and Record labels,” the statement read in part.
Senator Abbo who recently visited the family of late singer, Mohbad, promised to mobilise his colleagues I the Senate to support the bill so as to harmonise critical issues affecting stakeholders in the sector.
