Jumoke George / Exploitation of Talents: How Government Can Regulate Exploitative Practices in Nigeria - Abioye Tosin Lawrence

 _exploitation of talent across sectors, from entertainment to journalism, tech and more_ 

When veteran Nollywood actress Jumoke George opened up about years of underpayment and marginalization in the film industry, her words echoed the silent cries of countless Nigerian creatives. For every red carpet glamorizing Nollywood’s growth, there are dozens of actors, crew members, and creatives left behind underpaid, unrecognized, and sometimes abandoned in old age. The show goes on, but the pain persists behind the scenes.

This is not just a Nollywood problem; it is a symptom of a deeper national disease, the exploitation of talent across sectors. From entertainment to journalism, tech, and even healthcare, hard work is often met with humiliation, not honor. And while a few dazzle in extravagance, others are crushed under the weight of injustice.

It is time for the government to step in, not to control creativity, but to protect the creatives.

1. Enforce Minimum Wage Standards for Creative Work

Just as artisans and laborers are entitled to standard wages, there must be enforceable minimum payment laws across the creative and entertainment industries. This should be backed by contracts vetted through an independent regulatory agency to prevent talent from being robbed in plain sight.

2. Establish a Strong, Legalized Creative Workers’ Union

Creatives need more than associations that throw parties—they need unions that fight for pay equity, benefits, and job security. A government-backed guild, with the power to blacklist exploitative producers, is a necessary tool for justice.

3. Mandate Transparency and Audit Production Houses

Production companies receiving large sums should be audited periodically. A breakdown of production budgets and payment plans should be made public. If someone can spend millions on premiere events, then paying actors decently should not be an afterthought.

4. Tie Government Support to Ethical Standards

Producers who wish to benefit from government grants, access to public venues, or film villages must comply with labor fairness rules. Ethical treatment of cast and crew should be the gate pass to public resources.

5. Launch a Creative Veterans’ Support Fund

Actors like Jumoke George should not have to beg for recognition or support in their later years. Nigeria must establish a fund for industry veterans, those who laid the foundations of our cultural identity and deserve to live in dignity.

6. Introduce a Cultural Accountability Framework

We need a national values charter that rewards not just success, but how success is earned. Creatives and influencers who uplift the country with fair practices should receive awards, tax benefits, or national honors.

7. Enable Safe Whistleblowing Channels

A transparent mechanism must be put in place for creatives to report contract breaches, exploitation, or abuse, without fear of blacklisting. These reports should be investigated by an empowered film/creative commission.

Conclusion

The entertainment industry is a mirror of society. If we allow exploitation to flourish behind the camera, it will reflect in the stories we tell and the lives we ruin. As Nigeria seeks to rise as a global creative powerhouse, the dignity of its workers must come first.

No one should end their career in poverty after building our culture with their sweat and skill. Jumoke George’s story must not just go viral, it must spark a revolution of fairness.

Abioye Tosin Lawrence is the Publisher of OrionTimes Online Newspaper and the author of Voices from the Fire: My Journey Through a Hollow Empire.