By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Some third-party agents and advertising practitioners are not having it easy in Oyo State because of the clampdown on them by the Oyo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OYSAA).
The agency regulating advertisements in the state claimed that advertisers have refused to pay advert bills to the tune of N650 million to the state government’s coffers.
The Director-General of OYSAA, Mr Oludolapo Eso-Ajanaku, who led an enforcement team in Ibadan on Wednesday, said the decisive action was as a result of an extensive debt profile that has continued to grow, despite repeated encouragement and ample opportunities provided by OYSAA to third–party practitioners to reconcile their accounts and reduce their debt profile.
He stressed further that despite the compassion and generosity shown by the State government over an extended period, it has become obvious that the current level of non-compliance can no longer be sustained. Hence, the burden of unresolved debts necessitates a shift towards more stringent enforcement protocols moving forward.
“This enforcement initiative is not only about addressing the current financial discrepancies but also about setting a precedent for accountability and compliance within the Oyo State,” he said, adding that the ongoing non-compliance has reached a point where it jeopardizes the expansion of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Oyo State.
Mr Oludolapo therefore, urged all third-party practitioners within the state to promptly address their debts to avoid potential disruptions to their operations, stressing that, the agency reserves the right to approve, terminate, or revoke its engagement with any individual or organization at any point in time if they default in their roles and obligations.
