The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has welcomed the operationalisation of Nigeria’s copyright levy system, describing it as an important development in efforts to improve the earnings of writers and strengthen intellectual property protection.
The announcement was made during ANA’s 45th International Convention at the Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village in Abuja, which opened on October 30, 2026.
ANA President, Dr Usman Oladipo Akanbi, commended the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), led by its Director-General, Dr John Asein, for advancing the implementation of the levy.
The copyright levy is provided for under Section 89 of the Copyright Act 2022. It is intended to compensate copyright owners for private, non-commercial reproduction of protected works through devices and technologies capable of reproducing or storing copyrighted material.
According to the report, the levy imposes a five per cent charge on selected electronic devices, storage media, printers, photocopiers, phones and cloud services.
The Federal Government has reportedly released an initial ₦1.21 billion through the Nigerian Copyright Commission.
For Nigerian authors, publishers and other creative professionals, the development could provide an additional revenue stream from the reproduction and use of their protected works.
Speaking at the convention, Dr Asein reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to strengthening copyright enforcement and ensuring that creators receive appropriate financial rewards for their intellectual investments.
He also warned that piracy continues to undermine authors’ earnings, publishers’ investments and the sustainability of Nigeria’s creative industries.
The operationalisation of the levy is particularly significant for the publishing, film, music, broadcasting and digital content sectors, where unauthorised reproduction and distribution of protected works remain important concerns.
However, the success of the initiative will depend on transparent collection, effective administration and equitable distribution of royalties to eligible rights holders.
Why this matters: The copyright levy could reshape the financial relationship between creators and the commercial ecosystem that reproduces their works. Its implementation will be closely watched by authors, publishers, technology businesses and intellectual property practitioners.
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