The Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) has formally commended the Federal Government, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), and the Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN) over the copyright levy, which described as a “long overdue intervention” in the creative economy.
  
The union noted that for decades, Nigerian musicians have battled piracy, unauthorised distribution, and inadequate royalty collection. From the era of Alaba market bootlegging to today’s digital streaming loopholes, creators have often complained of earning applause but not income.
 
Addressing the media at its secretariat (Music House) in Lekki, Lagos, PMAN leadership led by Pretty Okafor, stated that Nigeria has reached a historic milestone for its creative economy, and the Nigerian music community must treat it with the seriousness, unity and urgency that it deserves.
  
He expressed profound gratitude to all stakeholders involved in actualising the long-sought-after initiative.

“This is a monumental step forward for the creative industry in Nigeria,” Okafor said, adding that “It demonstrates a clear commitment from the government and its agencies to protect the intellectual property of our artistes and ensure they reap the rewards of their tireless work.”
  
The association’s President particularly commended the NCC for its regulatory diligence and the MCSN for its persistent advocacy and commitment to collecting and distributing royalties. He noted that the journey doesn’t end with the levy’s implementation.
   
The body emphasised the critical need for a transparent and comprehensive nationwide beneficiary verification exercise, stressing that “the success and credibility of the copyright levy hinge entirely on ensuring that the rightful beneficiaries are identified and compensated.”
  
The musicians union tasked the NCC and MCSN to immediately initiate a robust, verifiable process across all geopolitical zones to authenticate every artiste, composer, and rights holder entitled to these funds. “This must be an open and meticulous process to build trust and prevent any leakage or misappropriation.”
  
The call for verification highlights a pivotal concern within the industry: the accurate identification and profiling of legitimate rights holders. Many artistes, especially those in the grassroots and rural areas, might not be formally registered or easily traceable through existing databases.
  
PMAN’s proactive stance aims to safeguard the interests of all creators, ensuring that the levy truly benefits those it’s intended for, rather than falling into the wrong hands or becoming mired in administrative complexities.
  
In another development, the leadership has formally informed all its members nationwide the important clarification that has now been issued by the MCSN. Following the press conference, MCSN issued an official public statement confirming that it has received and reviewed the relevant court processes concerning its leadership, including a Certified True Copy of a Consent Judgment dated February 5, 2025 and a Certified True Copy of an Order of Interlocutory Injunction dated October 30, 2025 of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.     
    
According to a representative of MCSN, Halim Mohammed, “This clarification is significant because it puts to rest the misinformation being circulated by certain individuals who have attempted to present themselves to stakeholders as what they are not.
  
“PMAN is aware that letters and content have been circulated to create confusion and to discourage musicians from participating in the Copy Levy Beneficiary Verification. Members should understand that this type of deception is not only harmful —it is directly harmful to musicians, because it is aimed at preventing eligible performers from being properly captured, verified, and considered for benefits,” he said.
  
Meanwhile, the association’s Acting General Secretary, Elizabeth Khara Gabriel,said, “PMAN is finalising the first batch of verified names from the ongoing Copy Levy Beneficiary Verification exercise for onward transmission to MCSN through the appropriate engagement channel, in line with the framework that MCSN has publicly reaffirmed.