As the world continues to battle the Coronavirus pandemic, the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) has announced a N50m financial relief package for all Nigerian artistes.

President of COSON, Tony Okoroji, made this known in a statement, he said since the beginning of the pandemic and the eventual lockdown of some states, he and other board members have received calls from many artistes who are desperate for any kind of assistance as they have been affected by the pandemic and the current lockdown which has also stopped entertainment activities across the country.

He said the organization’s board has therefore approved the release of 50 Million Naira to be shared amongst about 4,500 members on the society’s register as at May 19th, 2019 as an Anti-Corona Emergency Relief Distribution from COSON. Each member is to receive N11, 000.

“I have personally received calls from several members of COSON who are desperate for immediate assistance of any kind. Other members of our Board have received similar messages.

At a time like this, COSON must be responsible and responsive to the needs of our members and we should do everything we can to help them wade through these hard times. That is the very reason why COSON was set up.

I am proud of the quick response of members of the COSON Board who showed great understanding that we must be our brothers’ keeper at a time like this.

Starting immediately, with the co-operation of the banks, each qualified member of COSON will receive a modest sum of eleven thousand naira in what we have termed Anti-Coronavirus Emergency Relief (ACER) General Distribution.

We are able to do this because of the deft management of our resources. We wish we could do more. I, however, believe that most people are aware of what we have been through in recent times.

Let me thank the COSON management team of Vincent Adawaisi, Isa Aruna and Anthony Imuse who burnt the midnight oil to ensure that the decision of the Board is executed with dispatch” he said

On outstanding Specific Distributions, the COSON Chairman said

“Every member of the Board is very eager that all outstanding specific distributions should be paid without any delay. The issue was prominent in our discussions on the emergency relief distribution.

While the Board and the General Assembly have approved the specific distributions, it is common knowledge that COSON funds in two banks are frozen. The money for the specific distributions is domiciled in the frozen accounts. The money is safe. Not one Naira is missing.