The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-olu has suspended the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Bamidele Balogun for imposing 5% levy on the audio and visual content producers in the state.
The Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board had earlier announced in August that all audio and visual content produced within the state would attract a media levy of 5% on each content. This announcement sparked a lot of reactions from stakeholders in the entertainment industry, one of which was a tweet from the IrokoTV boss, Jason Njoku.
Jason Njoku tweeted, “I wonder if @NetflixNaija @FilmhouseCinema and @YouTube got one of these. Or just us card carrying patriots. ????. Let me go for a run ?????and then sleep. I will deal with this one tomorrow ?.”
I wonder if @NetflixNaija @FilmhouseCinema and @YouTube got one of these. Or just us card carrying patriots. 🇳🇬🙏🏾. Let me go for a run 🏃🏾♂️and then sleep. I will deal with this one tomorrow 😴. pic.twitter.com/gz0m4D6Bl4
— Mazi Chukwuma Jason Njoku (@JasonNjoku) September 3, 2020
In reaction to the tweet, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho stated in a statement that the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board was not authorized to make such directive.
The statement reads as follows, “There is no levy on audio and visual contents of all physical and digital platforms in Lagos State. The Executive Secretary, Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Mr. Bamidele Balogun, is said to have announced a five per cent levy.
“The government hereby dissociates itself from the said announcement in the media. The Executive Secretary, who was not authorised to make such an announcement, has been suspended, pending an administrative enquiry.”
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