The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Bamidele Balogun has been suspended by Governor Jide Sanwo-Olu over the imposition of a 5% levy on all audio and visual content streamed on all phyical and digital platforms around Lagos.
It was reported earlier that in one letters addressed to the Managing Director of Iroko TV, the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board requested for the “immediate payment of 5% levy on all audio and visual content produced, sold, distributed, marketed, exhibited, streamed, downloaded and shared across all physical and digital platform situate, lying and being within the state.”
Lagos state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho afterwards disclosed that the Executive Secretary was not authorised to make such an announcement.
Omotosho stated that the Sanwo-Olu administration is not insensitive to the fact that the creative industry has been badly hit by the effects of the COVID -19 pandemic and empathises with this and other sectors of the economy.
The statement read;
“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.”