PMAN fictionalisation: Ngige reconciles warring parties

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has charged the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria to bury their differences so as to enable the nation tap into the huge potential of the entertainment industry as a major job creation portal for the army of unemployed youths.
Ngige spoke in Abuja on Tuesday when he inaugurated a 35-man Interim Caretaker Committee for the association.
He said: “PMAN is the oil in the wheel of progress for the tourism industry.
“If your union is strong, it will be better organized to attract local and foreign investments and unleash its great potentials in job creation for our youths.
“Government is therefore very much interested in what is happening in PMAN and is eager to see this 12-year-old crisis behind us.”
Ngige observed with sadness the protracted crisis that held down PMAN, urged its leaders and members to embrace dialogue, give and take in order to accommodate all conflicting interests, Adding: PMAN deserves a government popularly elected and acceptable to all.
“Whenever an association is embroiled in crisis that involves factionalization, the best way to resolve it is give and take.
“The principle of social dialogue should be embraced by all as an important tool for the resolution of conflicts so as to avoid unnecessary litigations and the attendant cost involved.
“And that is why this caretaker committee is broadened to accommodate all factions who will steer the activities of the union to a credible election.
“We are in an era of change and we must change with the time.
“We run a popular democracy and are determined to give the union of musicians, a government of the musicians, by the musicians and for the musicians.”
Ngige commended many members of the group for their eminent contributions in developing the industry over the years, but urged them not to allow their preeminence to be a reverse tool in stifling other up-coming artists.
He said: “This caretaker must therefore work for peace and should avoid high-handedness in running the affairs of the body.
“The Federal Government is committed to giving every Nigerian or group opportunity to develop his potentials.”
The Chairman of the Interim Caretaker Committee, Kevin Gabriel Lucciano, in his vote of thanks commended the Minister for his intervention and pledged the cooperation of all members to the restoration of peace to the organization.