COVID-19: MultiChoice Nigeria commits N400m to safeguarding income of cast and crew of various productions
To cushion the harsh effects of the present economic condition, MultiChoice Nigeria, owners of DStv and GOtv, have committed N400 million to cover the remuneration of engaged creative industry professionals whose productions have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the surge in the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Sunday, placed a ban on movements in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Ogun States as part of measures the government is putting in place to curb the spread of the deadly virus.
Before then, academic, religious, business and social activities have been on a lockdown in major cities across the country due to the spread of the virus, forcing many Nigerians to stay at home and observe social distancing.
Nigeria’s creative industry has also been particularly affected, with ongoing productions suspended in response to government’s advisory on public gatherings and social distancing. To ameliorate the effect of the lockdown on cast and crew whose productions have been halted, the leading entertainment and media company took a decision to pay their salary.
“The creative industry salary payment of up to N400 million will offer a much needed financial reprieve for producers, actors, and technical talent currently contracted to MultiChoice Nigeria, whose livelihoods have been disrupted by the pandemic,” the CEO of MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe, said.
