By Sylvester Egede
The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution directing the immediate termination of all existing contracts for political billboards and posters within the Abakaliki Capital City.
The House also resolved that the Commissioner for Capital City Development shall take over full enforcement and collection of all levies relating to political billboards and posters with immediate effect.
The resolution followed a Motion of Urgent Public Importance moved by the Chairman, House Committee on Capital City Development and Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Arinze Lucas Chukwu.
Moving the motion, Hon. Arinze Lucas Chukwu representing Ishielu South Constituency expressed dismay over the indiscriminate pasting of political posters and erection of billboards on public buildings, electric poles, streetlights, bridges and fences across the capital city, describing the act as environmental pollution that defaces the aesthetic beauty of Abakaliki and deprives the State of Internally Generated Revenue.
He noted that the multiplicity of agencies laying claim to the collection of billboard levies has created confusion, revenue leakages and double taxation, stressing that extant laws empower the Commissioner for Capital City Development to regulate outdoor advertising within the capital territory.
According to the resolution, any political party, aspirant, group, organization or individual intending to mount billboards or paste posters within the capital city must pay the approved levies into a designated Government Revenue Account and obtain an official receipt before pasting:
(A) President and Governor — N150,000,000
(B) National Assembly — N20,000,000
(C) State House of Assembly — N5,000,000
The House further resolved that the Commissioner shall designate approved centres for pasting of posters and erection of billboards, and set up a Task Force to remove any political poster or billboard erected without proof of payment and defaulters, shall pay a 50 percent penalty in addition to the original levy.
It also directed the Chairman of the Ebonyi State Internal Revenue Service to terminate with immediate effect all contracts, concessions and arrangements with private consultants or agents relating to political billboards and posters within the capital city, and to hand over all files, data and authority to the Commissioner for Capital City Development.
Seconding the motion, the member representing Ivo Constituency, Hon. Onyebuchi Ogbadu, said the motion would restore sanity and boost the State’s IGR.
The House added that its Committees on Capital City Development, Finance and Environment shall monitor compliance and report back within 30 days.
After robust debate, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Moses Ije Odunwa, put the motion to question and it was unanimously adopted.
In a related development, the House approved a request by His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, seeking authorization to obtain a loan facility of Nine Billion, Six Hundred and Seventy-Three Million, Three Hundred and Thirty-Two Thousand, Eight Naira, Six Kobo (N9,673,332,008.06) from Keystone Bank Limited.
The Governor’s letter, which was read on the floor by the Leader of the House, Hon. Kingsley Ikoro, stated that the facility is jointly intended for the State Government and the Local Government Councils to meet the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) counterpart funding requirement.
According to the letter, Keystone Bank has agreed to provide the facility at 17% interest per annum with 0.5% management/commitment fee.
Moving the motion for approval, Hon. Ikoro urged his colleagues to treat the matter with the urgency it deserves in the interest of education development in the State.
Seconding the motion, Hon. Igu Chikezie Nwankwo, representing Ohaozara East, described the request as appropriate and critical to ensuring education for all, while Hon. Ifeanyi Nwakpu, representing Ikwo North, also spoke in support, highlighting its merits.
After exhaustive deliberations, Speaker Rt Hon Moses Ije Odunwa put the matter to vote and it was unanimously adopted.
