The staff of the Nigerian Film Corporation, NFC, in Jos, Plateau State yesterday staged a peaceful protest demanding the resignation of the Managing Director, Engineer Dadu Danjuma Wuri over allegations of incompetence and tribalism.
Dadu’s appointment came with a lot of controversies and rejection by stakeholders in the film industry.
Some believe that the appointment was a mere compensation from the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
He was picked in 2013 to head the nation’s apex film regulatory body which many believe he lacked prior exposure or experience in film or any film-related field.
The then President of Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Ibinabo Fiberesima, frowning on the appointment, had said, “This is the height of insult and a big slap on the face of film makers and the entire stakeholders of the film industry in Nigeria.
“How can a Marine Engr. be made the MD/CEO of Nigerian Film Corporation? The government might as well make a furniture maker the new health minister or a farmer the Attorney-General or Solicitor-General of the country. DO NOT GIVE US YOUR CANDIDATE TO FULFILL YOUR PROMISES; WE NEED PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND OUR TERRAIN.
“How ridiculous can we get? All true blue practitioners should rise and say no to this. We need professionals who understand the challenges of our growing industry. This is a NO to this appointment.”
Also reacting to Dadu’s appointment, then secretary of the Screenwriters Guild of Nigeria, SGN, Chike Bryan, expressing shock at the appointment, wrote a petition to former President, Goodluck Jonathan, saying, “Without prejudice to Engr. Dadu’s sterling qualifications and experiences as a Marine Engineer, the industry has nothing whatsoever against his person, but we take particular exception to the inglorious disregard of the availability of numerous astute, qualified, experienced and well-positioned filmmakers, some of whom have put over 20 years of their creative life, into the film Industry.
“As a matter of precedence, the N.F.C has been administered by notable filmmakers from its inception, from Brendan Shehu, Hyginus Ekwuazi and Afolabi Adesanya, as government has always seen the necessity to put qualified creative technocrats at the helm of affairs.
“More examples abound, with Prof. Dora Akunyili at NAFDAC, Engr. Ernest Ndukwe at the N.C.C, or Dr. Adewunmi at Ministry of Agriculture, or Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui–Okaruo at F.I.R.S.
”We, therefore, wonder why at this critical period of rebirth and renewal, government deems it fit to do a policy somersault and endanger the spirit of consultation and cooperation currently pervading between government and the film industry.”
Some of the protesting staff said activities in the institution had crippled since Dadu’s appointment, adding that he has brought the corporation to a standstill.
One of the protesters identified as Okeagu Ikechukwu Henry, said, “Now I wonder why the students did not join in this struggle. If only they knew the power they had to make their filmic education grow. But I’m glad the staff has come out to fight for what is right. These things should stop in even other sectors. He killed the school and wants to kill the staff with his policies? Worth a fight.”
Also, another staff, Abarshi Besin, said “He should leave. Since he got there, a lot of things have gone wrong in NFI. He must leave.”
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