Political Branding: Bello Signs Signage Advertising Bill Demanding N10m Poster Placement Fee From Candidates

Just like the law sponsored by the Anambra Signage and Advertising Agency (ANSAA) concerning campaign posters, the Kogi state governor, Yahaya bello has also signed the state Signage and Advertisement Bill 2022 into law.

The law demands that presidential candidates of the 18 political parties in the 2023 election must pay a compulsory sum of N10 million each before displaying their campaign posters, billboard, and banners in the state.

However, governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives, and the house of assembly candidates are to pay N5m, N2m, N1m, and N500,000, respectively.

This means that until permits are issued, no politician, political party, or organisation can erect any billboard or paste a poster at any designated place in the state.

Speaking on the law, the governor said it would help in generating revenue for the state and also facilitate a clean environment.

Bello warned the state lawmakers to ensure that all bills previously passed into law but not yet implemented must be identified.

He also advised the assembly to continue to work in synergy with the other arms of government to serve the people better.

The lawmakers, who considered the bill clause-by-clause at plenary, said the law would regulate the outdoor display of signage and advertisement in the state and will also curb the indiscriminate pasting of posters on sidewalks, walls, bridges, and public buildings in the state.

The three other laws signed are the Law to provide for the regulation of outdoor structure for the display of signage and advertisement law 2022; a law to provide for the repeal and reenactment of hotel and tourism board edit of 1995; the law establishing the Kogi State Hotel and Tourism Board and other matters .

Reacting to the new laws, the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Matthew Kolawole assured the state government of the assembly’s support.