PMAN Signs Mega Deal With Corporate Nigeria

At last the multi-billion naira deal between Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and corporate Nigeria has been signed, sealed and delivered.

The deal covers areas of Biometric I.D. Card Scheme for PMAN members and practitioners, African music and film 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.

Airtel Network Ltd is the official telecommunication. However, the synergy between PMAN and the 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.

Other corporate organisations involved in the deal include Nigeria Interbank Settlement Systems Plc (NIBBS) which is in charge of the financial inclusion strategy of 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 Insurance and Crusader Sterling Pensions which will provide insurance services and pensions to numerous members, with Hogg Robinson Ltd. as broker while 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 Airtel on Monday, June 29, 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.

Meanwhile, the suit challenging the judgment establishing the current Interim National Executive Caretaker Committee of PMAN also came up for hearing at the Federal High Court in Lagos the same day before Hon. Justice O. E. Abang. Counsels made presentations before the presiding judge.

Hon. Justice Okon Abang, in his preliminary ruling, maintained that the matter before his court must be treated with the merit it deserved and ordered the parties not to undermine the subsisting judgment until it was vacated or set aside by the court pending the determination of the substantive suit. He however adjourned the case to November 18, 2015.