BEVERLY HILLS, September 4, (THEWILL) – The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has suspended the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Mr. Bamidele Balogun, from his post, over an authorized 5% levy imposed on digital content creators in the state.
A copy of the letter addressed to Iroko TV was widely circulated on social media Thursday.
Gbenga Omotoso, Commissioner, Information and Strategy, who announced his suspension in a statement Friday, said there is no levy on Audio and Visual contents of all Physical and Digital Platforms in the State.
“The Executive Secretary, Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Mr. Bamidele Balogun, is said to have announced a 5% 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.
“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.”
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