The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) President, Emeka Rollas, emphasizes the urgent need for Nollywood to transform from an informal association to a structured union that can effectively advocate for actors’ rights and interests.
The industry, currently characterized by little to no regulation, often leaves actors vulnerable to exploitation. According to Rollas, this is precisely why a union is necessary to counterbalance the power imbalance and ensure fair compensation for artists.
Reforms within the film industry are crucial, and one such reform could be the implementation of actor licensing. This, Rollas believes, would create a more regulated and structured environment, enabling actors to benefit from their work and have greater control over their careers.
“We need to unionize,” Rollas stresses. “It’s no longer about being just an association, but a labor union, working to protect actors’ rights and interests vis-à-vis organizations that often take advantage of us.”
To achieve this goal, the AGN is drawing inspiration from international best practices, with the intention of creating a more robust and sustainable structure. This would involve licensing actors, allowing them to reap the financial rewards of their hard work and maintain a financial safety net in times of need.
“The lack of such structures has left Nigerian actors in a precarious situation,” Rollas points out. “When big-name actors fall ill, they often struggle to access the financial support they need because their earnings from their work do not include royalties and residuals.”
“In most cases, financial support is only available when artists are up-to-date with their benefits. Unfortunately, this is not a reality in the Nigerian film industry, which is why our ultimate goal is to create a union that can offer true protection and support to its members.”
