Uproar as TV And Radio Licenses Are Re-Introduced in Lagos Against NCC Guidelines
- Residents of Lagos State were shocked to see that they would have to pay for using radio and television in their homes, offices and shops
- In one of the notices seen in Surulere, residents have been asked to comply with the new guidelines or face legal action
- The post elicited reactions, with many people saying that the law has been in existence for years in some areas
A social media post shows a notice by Surulere local government in Lagos re-introducing radio and television licenses to drive the council’s internally generated revenue.
The post on Twitter with the handle @AnuoluwapoSis said, “They said we should be paying using television.”
Source: Getty Images
'Yes, it's true,' local government says
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The post shows that the Local government has warned residents to pay for television/or radio sets or face legal consequences and risk their properties being sealed off.
According to reports, Taiwo Adeniyi, whose phone numbers were listed on the notice, noted that the directive is in line with a Lagos State by-law which says that residents in such areas are required to pay for the use of appliances like televisions, radios and others.
Adeniyi said individuals are expected to pay the sum of N1,250 yearly based on the home appliance type.
He stated that despite the bye-law being stopped in 2015, it is revisited to generate funds for the local government and the state.
He asked people to visit the local government for clarification on the issue.
Law against NCC guidelines
A guideline by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Section 4.3 on short-range devices says users of Short Range Devices are not required by law to get a license but that such devices will need necessary permits by the Commission to ensure it works within the acceptable range.
The requirement by NCC shows that many of the payments are made majorly by manufacturers or importers.
Nigerians react to the new TV license regime
Social media users reacted to the Twitter post, saying that the practice has existed in some state local governments for many years.
One said:
“Something that has been going on in Ikorodu for 7 years upwards now you’ll pay for using TV/Radio & Fan”
Another responded:
“Wetin be this one again?
Na every opportunity to cash out, these people want o. Thank God I escaped Lagos.”
Okada ban: calls for job creation heightens, as restriction enters fourth week
Legit.ng reported that following the ban on commercial motorbikes in some major parts of Lagos state, there is a clamour for the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu to create alternative means of livelihood for individuals affected by the ban.
Speaking to Legit.ng on the development, Gidado Shuaib, publisher of News Digest, an online newspaper, urged the Lagos state government to create jobs for affected commercial motorcyclists.
Legit.ng recalls that the Lagos state government announced the total ban of Okada riders from June 1 in some areas of the state following the gruesome killing of a sound engineer known as David.
Source: Legit.ng
