Sanwo-Olu suspends LSFVCB director for imposing 5% levy on Content Creators

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 physical and digital platforms around Lagos.

LIB reported earlier that in a letter addressed to the director of Iroko TV, the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board requested for the “immediate payment of 5% levy on every 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 later disclosed that the Chief Secretary wasn’t authorised to form such an announcement.

Omotosho stated that the Sanwo-Olu administration isn’t insensitive to the very fact that the creative industry has been badly hit by the consequences of the COVID -19 pandemic and empathises with this and other sectors of the economy.

The statement read;

“There isn’t any levy on audio and visual content of all physical and digital platforms in Lagos State. The Chief Secretary, Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Mr Bamidele Balogun, is claimed to have announced a five per cent levy.

“The government hereby dissociates itself from the said announcement within the media. The Chief Secretary, who wasn’t authorised to form such an announcement, has been suspended, pending an administrative enquiry.”