The Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe has  assured that the Corporation would support the  efforts of the Nigerian Copyright Commission at enforcing the  payment of royalties to collective management organizations for commercial use of music in  hotels and other related  organizations.

Otunba Runsewe made this known in his office recently when the Director General of the Nigerian Copyright  Commission (NCC), Mr Adebambo Adewopo paid him a  courtesy visit in his office at Tourism Village, Abuja.

The NTDC boss commended the efforts of the Justice Minister, Mohammed Bello Adoke and the NCC boss at repositioning the intellectual property sector.

He described NCC as the ‘custodian’ of the industry and as such should ensure that the well being of the operators  are not abused.  He explained that NCC is the “life saver of the artistes by protecting their music from being pirated.”   According to him, “what NCC is doing is to bring life into the industry and pay  royalty.”

The NTDC helmsman stressed that the Corporation is fully supportive of the efforts of the Commission aimed at strengthening the industry in line with  international best practices.
He further explained that if the interest of the musicians were protected and the new policy implemented, it would  attract even foreign musicians into the  country.  He affirmed that with this development, “your organization can   create more jobs and help the industry to be stable.”

He intimated the NCC boss that in South  Africa, the Tourist Board works harmoniously with the country’s  Copyright Commission.  In the same vein, NTDC would collaborate with your Commission in the interest of the  industry.

He appealed to the DG of the Copyright Commission to review upwards the fines being charged by the Commission  for culprits.  He stressed that the fine should  be reviewed to serve as a serious deterrent.

Otunba Runsewe further canvassed for a workable and sustainable synergy between the two organizations that  would yield the expected dividends.  To this end he assured that NTDC would meet with the hotel owners to discuss  the issue and the  decisions reached at would be communicated to the Commission at another meeting to be     Scheduled.

Earlier, the Director General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Mr Adebambo Adewopo commended the  leadership style of Otunba Olusegun Runsewe,  especially the visible and tangible transformations he has brought  to bear .
in the Apex Tourism body.  His words: “DG Otunba Segun Runsewe is a great leader.

A man of vision, a  great achiever, an asset and a first class public servant who  bestrides every environment and institutions he serves in.”  He further affirmed  that “staff of NTDC should count themselves lucky to have him at the saddle.”

The NCC boss later intimated the DG NTDC that his visit was basically to seek collaboration and support in the  regulations guiding the use of music in hotels for the purpose of over sight regulation.

According to him,  “today, we are seeking your collaboration because government is one, so as to get the hotels in  the use of music and their regulation.”

He described the hospitality industry as a very critical and vital sector that  impacts and contributes significantly to the growth of the economy, hence the  need to regulate the use of music in the hotels.