The Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) and the Nigeria Publishers Association have disclosed their plan to form a Special Monitoring Squad in collaboration with the media to checkmate the activities of book pirates and perpetrators of other related vices in the industry.
This was disclosed at a roundtable conference attended by the Director-General of the NCC, Dr. John Asein, and the Executive Secretary of the NPA, Emmanuel Abimbola, at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Wednesday.
Asein underscored the role of the media industry in the actualization of the set goals of the NCC, describing the practitioners as critical stakeholders in the sector.
The DG, expressing concern over the disposition of the general public to the media, stressed the need for the practitioners to take their rightful position. He also stated that the fight against piracy could not be carried out without the support of the media, thereby soliciting their support.
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The DG expressed readiness to enter into a partnership with the media in the formation of a Special Monitoring Squad for the enforcement of piracy and other laws as enshrined in the Constitution.
According to him, “the role of the media is being underplayed in our society. Media remains critical stakeholders in a democratic setting.
“The NCC cannot function effectively without the support of the media, hence the need for collaboration.
“We are ready to go into partnership with the Nigerian media in the formation of a Special Monitoring Squad for effective policing.”
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the NPA, Abimbola, attributed the high cost of primary and secondary textbooks, especially in the Southwest, to the outrageous amount charged for periodic book reviews.
He disclosed that publishers are paying between N2m to N3m for a periodic review of their textbooks. This, according to him, is having a spill-over effect on the cover price of the textbooks.
Abimbola emphasized that even though the law permits periodic review of textbooks in primary and secondary schools, the charges should be affordable. He, therefore, called on the political leadership in the affected states to take action in this regard.
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