Executive, Suspended By Lagos State Government For Forcing 5% Charge On IrokoTV, Netflix

The Government of Lagos State has suspended the Executive Secretary of the state's film and Censors Board Mr. Bamidele Balogun.

Balogun's suspension was made know via a statement using the official Twitter handle of the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy Hon. Gbenga Omotoso.

Balogun was suspended on Friday September 8 after he issued a letter without the approval of the government.

MediaOrchid recalls that some producers cried out against earlier against a levy in the pipeline and thereafter were given an injunction from the Federal high court which stipulates that the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board does not have the authority to force charges after the National film and Video Censors Board had already charged.

Putting Content producers, distributors and video streaming platforms like Netflix and IrokoTV into consideration,

The Commissioner in his statement said,


“ 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 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 Executive Secretary, who was not authorised to make such an announcement, has been suspended, pending an administrative enquiry.

“ 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.”