Ebonyi Assembly approves N150m political billboard fees

The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has approved new levies for political billboards and posters in Abakaliki, fixing the fee for presidential and governorship candidates at N150 million, National Assembly candidates at N20 million and State House of Assembly candidates at N5 million.

The House also approved a request by Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru to obtain a N9.673 billion loan from Keystone Bank Limited to meet counterpart funding requirements for the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

On the billboard fees, the lawmakers unanimously adopted a resolution directing the immediate termination of all existing contracts relating to political billboards and posters within the Abakaliki capital city.

They also mandated the Commissioner for Capital City Development to take over the enforcement and collection of all levies relating to political billboards and posters.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by the Chairman of the House Committee on Capital City Development and Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Arinze Lucas Chukwu, who represents Ishielu South Constituency.

Moving the motion, Chukwu expressed concern over the indiscriminate pasting of political posters and erection of billboards on public buildings, electric poles, streetlights, bridges and fences across the capital city.

He described the practice as environmental pollution that undermined Abakaliki’s appearance and deprived the state of internally generated revenue (IGR).

Chukwu said competing claims by different agencies over the collection of billboard levies had created confusion, revenue leakages and double taxation.

He argued that existing laws empowered the Commissioner for Capital City Development to regulate outdoor advertising within the capital territory.

Under the resolution, any political party, aspirant, group, organisation or individual seeking to erect a billboard or paste posters within the capital city must pay the approved levy into a designated government revenue account and obtain an official receipt before proceeding.

The House also resolved that the commissioner should designate approved locations for poster pasting and billboard erection and establish a task force to remove installations erected without proof of payment.

Defaulters would be required to pay a penalty of 50 per cent of the original levy, in addition to the applicable fee.

The lawmakers further directed the Chairman of the Ebonyi State Internal Revenue Service to terminate all contracts, concessions and arrangements with private consultants or agents for political billboards and posters in the capital city.

The agency was also directed to hand over all relevant files, data and authority to the Commissioner for Capital City Development.

Seconding the motion, the member representing Ivo Constituency, Hon. Onyebuchi Ogbadu, said the resolution would restore order and improve the state’s revenue generation.

The House directed its Committees on Capital City Development, Finance and Environment to monitor compliance and report back within 30 days.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Moses Ije Odunwa, put the motion to a vote, and it was unanimously adopted.

Assembly approves N9.673bn loan

In a separate development, the Assembly approved Governor Nwifuru’s request for authorisation to obtain a N9.673 billion loan facility from Keystone Bank Limited.

The governor’s letter, read on the floor by the House Leader, Hon. Kingsley Ikoro, stated that the facility was intended for the state government and local government councils to meet UBEC counterpart funding requirements.

According to the letter, Keystone Bank agreed to provide the loan at an annual interest rate of 17 per cent, with a management and commitment fee of 0.5 per cent.

Moving the motion for approval, Ikoro urged lawmakers to treat the request with urgency in the interest of educational development in the state.

Seconding the motion, the member representing Ohaozara East Constituency, Hon. Igu Chikezie Nwankwo, described the request as appropriate and critical to advancing access to education.

The member representing Ikwo North Constituency, Hon. Ifeanyi Nwakpu, also supported the request, highlighting its potential benefits.

Following deliberations, Speaker Odunwa put the motion to a voice vote, and the lawmakers unanimously approved the loan request.