The Lagos State Government, has disassociated itself from the alleged 5% content levy imposed by the Film and Video Censors Board, on Audio And Visual Contents of all physical and digital platforms in the State owned by entertainers.
This comes a few hours after we reported that the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board served some entertainers residing in the state, a notice to pay 5% content levy on all their audio and visual contents, with a threat of a possible sanctions if deadline were not met. This was frowned at by Mr Folarin Falana (Falz) and other entertainers, calling the move by the Censors Board a joke.
The Lagos State government in a swift reaction to the alleged 5% content levy, announced on Saturday 5th September 2020, that they have suspended the Executive Secretary of the Censors Board, pending investigation to the matter.
The Government in a statement released by the Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, in disassociating the State and Governor from the alleged levy, said, the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Mr. Bamidele Balogun, who is said to have announced the 5% content levy, has been suspended, pending an administrative enquiry.
The Commissioner also said that the now suspended Executive Secretary, was never authorised to make such an announcement.
The Commissioner, Information and Strategy, also said that “the fifth pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda, the development policy of this Administration, is Entertainment and Tourism. Practitioners are partners in our effort to ensure that Lagos State remains Africa’s leader in entertainment.
The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu Administration is not insensitive to the fact that the industry has been badly hit by the effects of the COVID -19 pandemic and empathises with this and other sectors of the economy.
All stakeholders in the Entertainment Industry are advised to disregard the said publication,” he added.