Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, has urged broadcast stations, especially the ones owned by the Federal Government, to start paying royalties to artistes whose works are used by the stations.

Akunyili made the call at a meeting with regulatory agencies that came together to form a coalition against piracy in the country.

Akunyili said the platform known as the Creative Industries Regulatory Agencies would go a long way in checking the high incidence of piracy in Nigeria.

Agencies that make up are the Nigerian Copyright Commission, the National Broadcasting Commission, the Nigerian Film Commission, and the National Film and Video Censors Board.

The minister said, "Piracy has destroyed our creativity. Piracy has discouraged our highly talented artistes. Piracy has not allowed great men and women to reap the benefits of their talents, their labour, and their sweat.

"Coming together to say no to this is our collective responsibility. It is our responsibility to make sure that regulation is sound so that this aspect of the economy will move forward.

"As President Goodluck Jonathan has always stressed, we need to diversify. Our creative industry can actually be a major foreign exchange earner if we are able to deal with piracy and dealing with piracy will have a boost when four of you come together as you have done to say we are ready. Fighting piracy in Nigeria will boost the image of the country in the outside world."

She directed all broadcast stations in Nigeria to ensure that royalty was paid on music played by their stations to the approved collecting society.

Akunyili added, "Copyright Society of Nigeria is the registered private concern approved by government to be collecting royalty on music played in broadcasting outfits to be given eventually to local artistes. So we are pleading to all broadcasting centres to ensure that they pay this royalty to Copyright Society of Nigeria so that we can encourage our local artistes to work harder.

"The public sector will set the ball rolling. I am going to have a meeting with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and the Nigerian Television Authority so that we can work out modalities through which we can show good example to the private sector."

NCC Director General, Dr. Adebambo Adewopo, said CIRA wanted to ensure that piracy was a thing of the past in the country.

He said, "It is part of our effort to develop the music industry. We are focusing on quality management. We are looking for a situation where royalties will be paid on music in Nigeria. We will encourage all broadcast stations to pay royalty to the approved collecting society for the use of music."