The Actors Guild of Nigeria announced its withdrawal from the Federation of Registered Nollywood Guilds and Associations (FRENGAN), emphasising its commitment to members’ growth, development, and welfare as the primary rationale.
Emeka Rollas, AGN president, stated this in a letter he addressed to the leadership of FREGAN on Monday.
“After careful consideration of suggestions and opinions expressed by our members and stakeholders on AGN’s membership in FRENGAN, the National Executive Council has regrettably resolved to withdraw AGN’s membership from the body.
“This is to enable the Executive Council to focus on the growth, development, and welfare of members as we presently operate as service contractors, meaning that we fall short of labour protection with no access to social security,” said the letter.
It added, “However since filmmaking is a collaborative effort, we shall continue to support and promote sound and articulate industrial relationships among all the guilds and associations. We shall continue to uphold fair contractual practices and a regulatory environment to improve the livelihoods of our members while making the future of our industry more sustainable.”
The AGN, however, assured that the guild would continue to support and promote sound and articulate industrial relationships among all the guilds and associations in the Nigerian film industry.
FRENGAN is the umbrella body of all registered guilds in Nigeria’s film industry, with the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) and the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) as some of its members.
Other guilds and associations under the coalition include the Movie Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPAN), the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners of Nigeria (TAMPAN), and others.