The 5% payment for “all audio and visual contents sold, distributed, marketed, exhibited, streamed, downloaded or shared across either digital or physical platforms” was supposedly to “assist the Lagos State Government in policy formulation, with regard to planning and funding for the sector.”
Well, content creators can now rest easy because it appears that the letter was unauthorized.
The senior special assistant to the Lagos State Governor on New Media, Jubril Gawat, said that the letter was sent out by the executive secretary of the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board (LSFVCB), Bamidele Balogun.
He added that the Lagos State Government did not approve the levy and the secretary has been suspended pending an administrative query.
“The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu‘s Administration is not insensitive to the fact that the industry has been badly hit by the effects of the COVID19 pandemic and empathizes with this and other sectors of the economy,” the statement continues.
“All stakeholders in the Entertainment Industry are advised to disregard the said publication”.
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 5% levy.— The Greater Lagos Project (@GreaterLagosNG) September 4, 2020
The fifth pillar of the THEMES 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 Greater Lagos Project (@GreaterLagosNG) September 4, 2020
All stakeholders in the Entertainment Industry are advised to disregard the said publication.
— The Greater Lagos Project (@GreaterLagosNG) September 4, 2020
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