PMAN Signs Multi-Billion Naira Deal With Corporate Bodies, Wins In Court
At last the Multi-Billion naira deal between the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and corporate Nigeria has been signed, sealed and delivered.
The deal which covers areas of the Biometric I.D. Card Scheme for PMAN members and practitioners, African music films Distribution network (both music & films) in Nigeria and globally; tracking and collection of downloads, Bar-coding And Encoding of all musical works coming from Nigeria, hence, the choice of Airtel Network Ltd as the official telecommunication.
However the synergy between PMAN and appointed corporate bodies has created a Close User Group (CUG) platform for all Music Practitioners, Producers, Instrumentalists, Marketers, Distribution and Retailers and all ancillary service providers in the entertainment industry etc.
Other corporate organisations are: Nigeria Interbank Settlement Systems Plc(NIBBS) which is in charge of the financial inclusion strategy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. Skye Bank, Heritage Bank, Unity Bank, also in the deal are Royal Exchange Insurance Plc, Custodian Allied Insurance, Aiico Insurance, Sovereign Trust Insurance, Mutual Benefit Assurance, Standard Alliance Insurance, Niger Insurance Plc, Staco Insuranceand Crusader Sterling Pensions who shall provide insurance services & pensions to our numerous members with Hogg Robinson Ltd. as broker, Microsoft, Dab-Hands and Global System One(GS1)are not left out of the deal.
The signing of the monumental deal, which took place at the prestigious Banana Island Head Office of Telco Corporate Giant, Airtel on Monday 29th June, 2015, had in attendance personalities drawn from all the organisations including PMAN executive members led by the President Mr Pretty Okafor.
With this development, Nigerian Musicians are in for “good times never seen before” as the era of “Monkey Dey Work Baboon Dey Chop” is over. Music practice in Nigeria is now in tune with best global standards henceforth.
Meanwhile, the suit challenging the judgement establishing the current Interim National Executive Caretaker Committee of PMAN also came up for hearing at the Federal High Court in Lagos same day June 29th 2015 before Hon. Justice O. E. Abang. Counsels to parties argued their cases for or against before the presiding judge.
Hon. Justice Okon Abang, in his preliminary ruling, the judge maintained that the matter before his court must be treated with the merit it deserves and ordered the parties not to undermine the subsisting judgement until it is vacated or set aside by the court, in his words jurisdiction or no jurisdiction the judgement stands and must be respected by everyone including bodies and authorities pending the determination of the substantive suit. He however adjourned the case to November 18th, 2015 after their annual vacation.
