Just In: Ebonyi Assembly Approves N150m Levy for Presidential, Governorship Campaign Billboards

The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has directed the immediate termination of all existing contracts for political billboards and posters within Abakaliki Capital City, while approving a levy of N150 million for presidential and governorship campaign advertisements.

The House also resolved that the Commissioner for Capital City Development should assume full responsibility for enforcing regulations and collecting levies on political billboards and posters within the capital city. The resolutions 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 Abakaliki. He described the practice as environmental pollution that undermines the aesthetic appeal of the capital city and deprives the state government of revenue. The lawmaker also noted that the involvement of multiple agencies in collecting billboard levies had created confusion, revenue leakages and instances of double taxation.

He maintained that existing laws empower the Commissioner for Capital City Development to regulate outdoor advertising within the capital territory. Under the approved resolution, political parties, aspirants, groups, organisations and individuals seeking to erect billboards or paste political posters within Abakaliki must pay the prescribed levies into a designated government revenue account and obtain official receipts before proceeding. The approved rates are N150 million for presidential and governorship campaign advertisements, N20 million for National Assembly candidates and N5 million for State House of Assembly candidates. The House further resolved that the commissioner should designate approved locations for poster placement and billboard erection to ensure compliance with the regulations. However, the motion's remaining provisions were not available in the source material. Further details on the proposed enforcement mechanism and sanctions for defaulters could not be included.