The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has suspended the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Bamidele Balogun, for imposing a five per cent tax on all audio and visual acts platforms including Netflix and Iroko TV.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy for the state, Gbenga Omotosho, said this in a statement on Friday night titled, ‘Lagos State Has No 5% Levy on Audio and Visual Contents of Physical and Digital Platforms’
The statement read in part, “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.”
He also stated that the Sanwo-Olu administration is not inconsiderate to the fact that the industry was severely hit by the effects of the COVID -19 pandemic and empathises with this and other sectors of the economy.