FTAN Resolves Dispute Between AVRS And Abuja Hotel Owners

THE President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria ( FTAN), Nkereuwem Onung has resolved the dispute between the Audio Visual Rights Society ( AVRS) and the Hotel Owners Forum Abuja ( HOFA).

This followed AVRS ‘ written letter to Hotels in Abuja asking them to pay for the Consumption of Audio Visual creative Products in their Hotels. The Hotel Owners who felt it is unfair to tax them when they have paid for the decoders and the bouquet resisted this. This dispute ended up as Court Cases.

AVRS is recognised by law as a collecting society that protects the intellectual rights of creativity in the Audio Visual sector of the Industry. AVRS has been known to use picket hotels to enforce their rights.

This dispute was one of the problems the new President of HOFA, Barrister Funmi Kazeem, inherited on assumption of office. She had entered into negotiations with AVRS to reduce the cost of compliance for her Members. The negotiations had dragged on over time and had become almost deadlocked before she reached out to FTAN to intervene. The FTAN President with the Counsel of the BOT Chairman relocated to Lagos with the HOFA president to engage AVRS with a view to resolving the issue.

All issues were eventually resolved to the expectations of all parties involved at the meeting held on Monday 17, December

2021 at the Office of AVRS between FTAN, HOFA and AVRS. HOFA accepted to pay for the use of the products and a prorated rate depending on the size and quality of the hotels, which were divided into four classes.

AVRS however agreed to reduce the burden of arrears as the hotels did not know of the law until recently. HOFA agreed that its members will pay the agreed arrears before April 2022 and the new rates by June 2022.

AVRS also agreed to soft pedal on its picketing and court cases to enable the association to enlighten its members on the legitimacy of the invoice sent by AVRS.

The Chairman of AVRS Mahmood Alli Balogun who appreciated the FTAN team for choosing the path of dialogue elaborated the role members of AVRS play in the Society. He said it is only fair that users pay for consumption. He also commended the President of HOFA for bringing the Tourism Federation along to help break the deadlock.

The Director of AVRS, Prince Jide Kosoko, a popular actor, also appreciated the Tourism team for deciding to support performers in the movie industry by complying with the law. He told them that the product has already been consumed and payment for it should be encouraged.

Once the teams agreed upon the template for payment, the consultant of AVRS Chinedu Chukwuji congratulated HOFA for doing the right thing. He said that consumption is personal to individual hotels and that the invoices will be sent to the hotels directly.

The President of FTAN thanked the AVRS team for accepting the new terms of agreement. He told them that he intentionally brought along Ambassador Ikechi Uko, an FTAN BOT member, because he knows that he is well known to the AVRS team. He was brought along to underscore the fact that it is a family meeting. His presence and contributions Nkereuwem said was vital to an amicable resolution. He promised that the era of picketing of hotels would soon be over, as FTAN will be reaching out to its member associations on the need to comply with the law.