By Adesoba Toluwalope
Nigerian Flutist and president of Entertainment Database, Omatshola Iseli, also known as “Tee Mac”, has called on the Federal Government to provide COVID-19 palliatives to Nigerian entertainers.
The flutist made this known on thursday, February 4, 2021 in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
Omatshola disclosed that Nigerian entertainers were mostly affected by the COVID-19 protocols.
Iseli, who is also the Chairman, Entertainment Foundation, said the entertainment industry was largely affected when night clubs were closed, bars shut down, halls closed down, e.t.c.
According to him, entertainers who depend solely on these means of income had nothing to fall back on.
Tee Mac said that palliatives must be extended to these group of individuals just as practised in Europe and the United States of America.
He said unfortunately, no Nigerian entertainer had received any palliative from the governments since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Nigerian Entertainers are suffering, if government bans live shows, night clubs and multipurpose halls from operating, they should also cushion the effect on entertainers who were not working by providing palliatives.
“In 2020, we were told that some money was earmarked as COVID-19 palliative for Nigerian Entertainers but up till now, no musician, comedian or actor has received any dime as palliative.
“This is disheartening and I plead with the government to wade into this issue promptly because Nigerian entertainers are really suffering.
“In Switzerland, every musician gets US$3,000 per month, in the United States of America, they get US$1,500 per month while musicians in the United Kingdom get 1,500 pounds, this is because their wellbeing is prioritised.
“Nigeria should not be an exemption, the wellbeing of musicians, comedians, visual artists and actors must be placed on the front burner,” he said.
According to the flutist, the number of people who suffered the most during the pandemic are the entertainers.
“The group of people who have suffered the most during this COVID-19 era are the entertainers, the said COVID-19 palliative should be extended to us,” he said.
