The House of Representatives has requested the Nigeria Copyright Commission to safeguard the rights of Mohbad’s songs and lyrics.
This decision was made on Tuesday during the plenary session in Abuja on Tuesday, following a motion by Rep. Babajimi Benson.
During the plenary session, Benson talked about how Mohbad’s sudden passing has caused a lot of discussions and protests.
People are demanding an investigation and there was even a tribute concert for him. It seems like Mohbad’s fans are having a hard time accepting his death.
Benson mentioned that Mohbad left Marlian Record owned by Naira Marley, in 2022 was due to several grievances, including unpaid royalties Records. This shows that there are problems in the music industry where artists are not treated fairly. It’s a bigger problem where artists are stuck in bad contracts and face problems when they try to leave.
Benson also said that this is not just happening to Mohbad, but to other artists too. They are trapped in contracts that do not give them creative freedom or enough money. It’s important to fix this issue for the industry to grow.
Benson is worried that most of Mohbad’s money was going to his record label and his estate is not being protected. Even though he was a famous artist, it does not seem like his rights were being taken care of.
The House paid tribute to Mohbad and wants to protect the rights of young artists. They want to investigate his death and the issues with his record label. They also want the National Copyright Commission to work with record labels, artists, and legal experts to solve these problems.
The guidelines should guarantee fair treatment, transparent contracts, and adequate compensation for artists. They should also assess current copyright and contract laws in Nigeria to identify areas that require reform.
Additionally, the House has tasked its Committee on Justice and Legislative Compliance to ensure that these guidelines are followed.