Actress Teniola Aladese has highlighted the secrecy surrounding pay in Nollywood and the significant disparities in earnings among actors.

In a recent interview, Aladese noted that many performers accept low fees because they assume the project’s budget is fixed. In reality, she explained, some films allocate larger sums for certain roles, meaning there is often room for negotiation.

Aladese emphasised the importance of open discussions about pay, citing conversations with colleagues like Timini Egbuson, who expressed dissatisfaction with a project’s offered amount. “Hearing that made me realise how much money is actually circulating in the industry,” she said.

The actress, known for her roles in “Jemeji,” “Love in a Pandemic,” and “Gone,” explained that the culture of secrecy leaves many performers unaware of their true value, resulting in unequal pay for similar work.

“In my industry, people rarely talk about pay disparity, and I’m grateful to individuals like Timini Egbuson and Kunle Remi, who openly discuss their earnings with colleagues,” she said.

Aladese recalled a conversation on the set of Love in a Pandemic with Timini, who remarked, “You’re calling me to spend weeks on set for what I could make in two to three days elsewhere.”

She added, “The issue is, because we don’t talk openly about pay, many people aren’t aware of the earning potential. They assume, ‘Ah, they offered me 100,000, I’ll just take it,’ without realizing that budgets are often flexible. For instance, a character might only be needed for a couple of days, but the budget might allocate 700,000.”

By advocating for transparency, Aladese hopes to empower actors to better understand their worth and negotiate fair compensation, ultimately addressing longstanding pay inequities in Nollywood.