All eyes on creative industry committee
...as stakeholders call for support
Few weeks ago when Lai Mohammed, minister of Information and Culture, announced that the federal government was going to set up a Post-covid-19 Initiatives Committee for the Creative Industry, stakeholders in the industry were happy that the government is now reckoning with the contributions of the industry to the economy.
But the good mood was shortlived when members of the committee were unveiled. Many stakeholders frowned at the minister’s choice of representatives, saying they were not the best and that many sub-sectors of the creative were not included.
One of the sustained attacks on the proposed committee came from a coalition of 18 guilds and associations in the creative industry, which issued a statement saying that it was unfortunate that the government would take such action without considering the leadership structure of the industry.
However, the minister has increased the number of industry representatives in the committee to 22 from the initial 14. He has also gone ahead to inaugurate the committee.
At the virtual inauguration in his office in Abuja, the minister clarified that, ”While the committee cannot accommodate all members of the industry, it is certain that all members will benefit from its work. I therefore want to implore the entire industry to support this committee. This is no time for division. All hands must be on deck so the industry can rebound”.
As well, Ali Baba, chairman of the committee, assured that members of the committee would work in unison to represent the entire creative industry and not just their respective sectors.
But most stakeholders argue that with the exclusion of some sectors, there is already bias and fear that when the anticipated palliative from government is released, it would not get to all the sub-sectors of the creative industry.
Looking at the committee’s term of reference, which include; assessing the expected impact of the pandemic on the industry; advise government on how to mitigate job and revenue losses in the sector, creating succour for the industry small businesses, suggest taxation and financing that is best for the industry at this time among others, many stakeholders think most members of the committee are not grounded enough in the industry and may not come up with the required recommendations.
Jude Owajare, a music producer, noted that even the reconstituted committee of 22 people did not reflect the broader industry. “Government hardly comes to the aid of the private sector, now it is trying to support us, I think that leadership of all the sectors in the creative industry should have been carried along instead of handpicking people”.
As well, Israel Eboh, president, National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), queried why government refused to get the stakeholders involved in such an issue of policy formulation.
With the inauguration of the committee, Owajare said that the issue for now is not the committee but the quality of their recommendations and how they would be implemented by the government.
Ademola Coker, a movie director, noted that the selection did not reflect the wider industry, but hence the committee has been inaugurated, members of the different sectors in the industry should form think-tank, resolve on a solutions that would impact the industry positively and forward them to their representatives.
“I suggest that stakeholders should work together and support the committee because government can change its mind if we are not serious”, he said.
Coker further suggested that stakeholders should reserve their strength for the tough battle of pressurizing government to implement the recommendations. He also thinks that tourism and hospitality sector should be separated from the creative industry, while sectors that were not represented in committee take their place.
Toeing Coker’s line, Ezekiel Odun, a choreographer, warned that government has no money now and it is spending so much to curtail coronavirus. It is wise the creative industry speak with one voice now in order to get the anticipated support from government or sink when other industries are recovering.
But Odun queried how equitable the aid from government would be shared to stakeholders, especially the small and upcoming outfits.
“The trouble with the planned support from government will come during the implementation of the recommendations of the committee and not with the representation. So, I think the government should get a structure model or liaise with Bank of Industry in the disbursement”, Odun said.
Owajare also fears that those handpicked in the committee would influence things in their favour, their fiends and associates.
“People are fighting to get into the committee for selfish reasons. They see it as opportunity to make money rather than to serve. So, the minister should be mindful of that”, Owajare said.
While the committee has started work, stakeholders are urging aggrieved industry players to support the committee with sustainable recommendations as opportunity to get the needed support from government hardly comes.