Lagos State Govt Suspends Films Board Secretary Over Illegal 5 Percent Media Levy


 



 





The Lagos State Government has distanced itself from alleged illegal imposition of five percent levy on audio and visual contents of physical and digital platforms.

The government also suspended the Executive Secretary of the state Film and Video Censors Board, Bamidele Balogun over the illegal levy.
The board had in a letter addressed to IROKO TV’s Jason Njoku, sought the payment of five percent levy “on all audio and visual content on all physical and digital platforms."

The letter, dated August 31, 2020, was signed by Balogun.
However, in a series of tweets by Spokesman to the Lagos State Governor, Gboyega Akosile, such a levy was not approved by the state government.

According to Akosile, “There is no levy on Audio and Visual contents of all physical and digital platforms in Lagos State.
“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.”
Akosile further stated that the administration was not insensitive to the fact that the entertainment and tourism industry had been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic and would not seek to inflict more pains with taxes, adding that  “All stakeholders in the entertainment Industry are advised to disregard the said publication.”