…Says Full Implementation Of Corporate Licence Regime Takes Effect April 1
In line with Federal Government’s policy of economic recovery, inclusive growth, development of local talents, on the need to strengthen the Nigerian Advertising Industry regulatory framework and reverse the negative trajectories currently plaguing the industry, The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), has issued Regulatory Framework for the Nigerian Advertising Industry.
ARCON is the regulatory agency of the Federal Government with responsibility for the administration and control of advertising, advertisement and marketing communication in Nigeria
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, the Director General of ARCON, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo said as part of the ongoing advertising industry reform and the need to strengthen advertising agencies service delivery, build capacity and capability as well ensure long term stability in the industry, each sectoral group, which include AAAN, EXMAN, MIPAN and OAAN is to provide N1bn (One Billion Naira) professional industry insurance cover for its members.
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This, according to him, will cover professional indemnity for members of their Association as part of the corporate license requirements.
“The full implementation of the corporate licence regime will take effect from April 1, 2024.
He added that the framework will also include capital structure and working capital.
“There is an urgent need to review the capital structure and working capital requirement of the advertisement agencies in line with economic realities and capacity building programmes of ARCON.
“ARCON is currently in talk with the Heads of Advertising Sectoral Groups (HASG) and other relevant stakeholders on the minimum capital requirement for registration and license as an advertisement agency. Regulatory guidelines will be issued as soon as position is taken on this.”
The DG said ARCON is collaborating with EFCC, NBC and other government agencies on the implementation of the 45 days credit payment threshold in the advertising industry and any organisation that offered payment threshold outside 45 days credit policy will be tagged as economic saboteur of the Nigeria advertising industry.
“Such Organisation will be flagged and reported to other government agencies for further investigation and necessary punitive actions.”
Fadolapo disclosed that globally, payment threshold is a policy in the advertising industry. “Some stakeholders have been offering Nigerian media and other service providers 120 days payment circle, thereby impoverishing the Nigerian advertising industry.
“These same stakeholders prepay foreign media houses operating in Nigeria for media services. Some had insisted on old practices that have led to industry debt and exploitation of media owners. We can no longer allow this to continue,” he said.
Others include, Use of Local Talents; Data Bank for Advertisement Agencies; Media Rates Deregulation; Engagement and Disengagement Protocol; Publication of ARCON Register of Practitioners; Stoppage of Imported Advertisement in Nigeria and National Policy on Out-of-Home (OOH) Advertising.
The DG said that ARCON will continue to insist that Nigerians should be considered as primary in all advertisement targeted at the Nigerian market. Use of foreign models and voices are banned except where it is inevitable.
“In this case, application for variation should be formally addressed to the Director General with detailed explanation of the rationale for the use of the foreign talent. Approval is not automatic. If you are selling your product to Nigerians, use Nigerians for your advertisement.
“As part of our effort of building a robust and beneficial data bank for the Nigeria advertising industry, ARCON has commenced a national audit of advertisement agencies in line with its establishment Act. ARCON will write to seek all relevant information from stakeholders and ensure that only licensed advertisement agencies are engaged.
“We have started reaching out to advertisers both private and public organisations, State Signage Agencies etc on this. A directory of advertising agencies in Nigeria will be produced immediately after the completion of the first audit exercise.
The DG said Media Rates remains deregulated in the Nigerian Advertising Industry. No stakeholder or group of stakeholders should regulate media rates charged by the Nigeria Media Houses. The Nigerian media houses should be accorded the same level of respect and business practices accorded foreign media organisations operating in Nigeria. Let demand and supply determine sales and purchases of media services as it is in the other sectors of the industry.
He also stated that all stakeholders are requested to adhere to the engagement and disengagement procedure as stated in the Advertising Industry Standard of Practice (AISOP).
“ARCON has commenced full implementation of the AISOP framework. Where an agency is disengaged without proper reconciliation of financial matters before engaging another agency on the same account, and ARCON is petitioned, the new agency and engaging organisation will be investigated, and where they are found culpable, they will be sanctioned,” he explained.
He also disclosed that ARCON has been baling with issues of exposure of unapproved advertisement, illegal advertising practices, damaging actions of unregistered persons claiming to be advertising practitioners among other challenges.
“Sequel to the above, ARCON would publish its membership register as soon as the ongoing membership review exercise is concluded. A notice has been issued in this regard by the Registration Directorate of ARCON.
“ARCON will continue to insist on production of advertisements in Nigeria, stop the capital flight and development of other economies by some Nigerian organisations’ attitude of going out of the country to produce advertisements meant for our market.
“All commercials to be exposed to Nigerians should be produced in Nigeria. We need to create jobs for the Nigerian youths, help grow and develop the support service sector of the industry and circulate funds within the Nigerian advertising ecosystem. Where advertisements are produced outside Nigeria, such advertisements will be heavily taxed. Consequently, the variation rate will be reviewed upwards shortly,” he reiterated.
Explaining the National Policy on Out-of-Home (OOH) Advertising, Dr Fadolapo said a Committee headed by the Director General of ARCON has been set up to plan and organise a national workshop on OOH advertising business.
“ARCON is collaborating with States’ Signage Agencies and OAAN on the need to formulate a broad based OOH Advertising regulatory framework for the industry. We will seek input from all relevant stakeholders and ensure industry participation in the framework. A committee has been set up to work on this.
“We will continue to engage all stakeholders in ensuring a win-win situation for the growth of the industry in particular and the Nigerian economy in general. We need the support of all stakeholders to sanitize the advertising industry and create a better ecosystem,” he stated.
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