On 10 June 2026 Nigeria’s House of Representatives directed its Committee on Justice to investigate alleged irregularities in the country’s copyright administration and to report within four weeks. The inquiry puts the collective management organisations Nigeria relies on for music licensing back in the spotlight. For platforms, broadcasters, venues and foreign rights holders, the practical question is which body can lawfully license and collect, and how to avoid paying twice.
Update (October 2026): on 9 July 2026 the Court of Appeal in Lagos dismissed an appeal by the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) and confirmed that its approval had lapsed in May 2019; COSON has signalled an appeal to the Supreme Court (Interspace Music, 10 August 2026). By 30 July the committee’s findings had not been published (IPKat).
Key takeaways
- The Committee on Justice must hear the Ministry of Justice, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), the collecting societies and the industry, and report within four weeks.
- Under the Copyright Act 2022, only NCC-approved collective management organisations may operate; acting as one without approval is a criminal offence.
- The Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN) is the licensed society for musical works and sound recordings; COSON disputes the loss of its approval.
- The first payout of the private copying levy, about ₦1.2 billion to MCSN, was frozen by a court order in February 2026.
What did Nigeria’s House of Representatives decide?
According to the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (10 June 2026), the motion was sponsored by Hon. Nkemkanma Kama and refers to alleged systemic irregularities in copyright administration, including allegations involving the previous Attorney-General of the Federation. The House resolved to:
- direct the Committee on Justice to investigate the copyright regulatory framework;
- engage the Federal Ministry of Justice, the NCC, the collective management organisations (CMOs) and music industry representatives; and
- report findings and recommendations within four weeks.
An inquiry is not a ruling: nothing changes until the House acts on the report or the courts decide the pending cases. But licensing in Africa’s largest music market is now under political as well as judicial scrutiny.
How do collective management organisations work in Nigeria?
A CMO, or collecting society, licenses works on behalf of many rights holders, collects royalties and distributes them. Section 88 of the Copyright Act 2022, in force since 17 March 2023, sets the rules:
- A CMO must be a company limited by guarantee, represent a substantial number of owners and obtain NCC approval.
- The NCC will not approve a second CMO for a category that an existing one adequately covers, so there is normally one per category.
- Operating as a CMO without approval is an offence, with minimum fines of ₦1,000,000 for individuals and ₦5,000,000 for companies.
- Where only one CMO is approved for a category, it may also license non-members’ works unless they opt out in writing.
Under section 39, a body representing more than 50 owners cannot sue for infringement unless it is approved or holds an exemption certificate. Detailed rules sit in the CMO Regulations 2007.
| Body | Role | Position in June 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| NCC | Regulator: approves CMOs, reviews tariffs, manages the levy fund | Its administration is part of the inquiry |
| MCSN | CMO for musical works and sound recordings | Licensed; levy funds frozen by court order |
| COSON | Former leading music CMO | Approval suspended, later lapsed; contested in court |
| AVRS and REPRONIG | CMOs for audiovisual and for literary works | Licensed |
The list of licensed societies follows a 2025 overview by S.P.A. Ajibade & Co.; confirm it with the NCC before relying on it.
Why the private copying levy is part of the dispute
Section 89 allows a levy on equipment and media capable of copying works. It is paid into the NCC’s fund, which may pay it “to approved CMOs or other representatives of right owners”. In early February 2026 the NCC paid around ₦1.2 billion to MCSN, the first distribution ever, as BusinessDay reported on 20 February 2026.
The Record Label Proprietors Initiative (ReLPI) challenged the allocation, arguing that MCSN mainly represents compositions rather than sound recordings, and the Federal High Court in Lagos (suit FHC/L/CS/207/2026) froze the funds. Even an approved CMO’s mandate over a specific repertoire can be disputed.
What this means for your business
- Map the repertoire first. Separate compositions from sound recordings and identify who controls each: a CMO, a publisher or a label licensing directly.
- Ask the society for evidence of current NCC approval and its repertoire list before paying, and keep both on file.
- Build protection into the contract: warranties on mandate, an indemnity against third-party claims and a way to hold back disputed amounts.
- European and Latin American rights holders should check how their catalogue is represented in Nigeria and whether distributions reach them.
If you are launching in Nigeria alongside other African and European markets, our team for copyright licensing and protection of digital works can structure the licences and coordinate local counsel.
Where companies get music licensing in Nigeria wrong
- Paying whoever claims first. Paying an unapproved body does not protect you against the rightful one.
- Assuming one licence covers everything. Composition and recording rights may sit with different holders.
- Relying on old due diligence. Approvals can be suspended and court orders can freeze funds mid-contract.
- Leaving disputes to the local partner. If the distributor signs in its own name, you may have no direct remedy.
Frequently asked questions
Which collecting society licenses music in Nigeria?
The Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN) is the society licensed by the Nigerian Copyright Commission for musical works and sound recordings. COSON, which previously held that role, disputes the lapse of its approval. Labels and publishers can also license directly, so check who controls each part of the repertoire before signing.
Can an unapproved society sue for copyright infringement in Nigeria?
Under section 39 of the Copyright Act 2022, a body that licenses works, collects royalties and represents more than 50 copyright owners cannot bring or maintain an infringement action unless the NCC has approved it or issued an exemption certificate. Individual owners, assignees and exclusive licensees keep their own right to sue.
What is Nigeria’s private copying levy?
It is a levy under section 89 of the Copyright Act 2022 on equipment and media capable of copying works. It is paid into the NCC’s fund and distributed to approved CMOs or other representatives of rights owners. Its first distribution, about ₦1.2 billion, was frozen by a court in February 2026.
Can IP Global Guard handle music licensing in Nigeria for my company?
Yes. We review the repertoire and mandate of each licensor, structure the licence terms and coordinate qualified local correspondents in Nigeria for negotiations and disputes. You deal with a single point of contact who also manages your rights in Europe, Latin America and the rest of Africa.
How IP Global Guard can help with music rights in Africa
IP Global Guard, the IP services line of META Channel Corporation Limited, manages copyright, licensing and enforcement across more than 25 jurisdictions in Europe, Latin America and Africa, with one strategy and one billing relationship. If a matter reaches the courts, our IP disputes and licensing team coordinates the local side.
Tell us which catalogues or services you plan to launch in Nigeria and who has approached you for royalties. We will check the mandates, flag the risk of double claims and propose a licensing structure. Send us your licensing questions.
This article is general information, not legal advice; it reflects the position on the date of publication.
Sources
- National Assembly Library Trust Fund, Reps probe copyright irregularities (10 June 2026)
- Nigerian Copyright Commission, Copyright Act 2022 (in force 17 March 2023)
- WIPO Lex, CMO Regulations 2007
- BusinessDay, Court freezes MCSN’s levy funds (20 February 2026)
- Mondaq / S.P.A. Ajibade & Co., CMOs in Nigeria (11 April 2025)
- IPKat, Nigeria’s copyright licensing system under scrutiny (30 July 2026)
- Interspace Music, Court of Appeal ruling on COSON (10 August 2026)
