The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has approved a N150 million levy for presidential and governorship candidates seeking to erect political billboards in Abakaliki ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Under the approved rates, candidates contesting National Assembly seats will pay N20 million, while those seeking election into the Ebonyi State House of Assembly will be required to pay N5 million.
The lawmakers also approved a separate N9.673 billion loan facility sought by Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru from Keystone Bank Limited to enable the state government and local councils to meet their counterpart funding obligations under the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) programme.
The decisions were reached during a plenary session at which the Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution to regulate political advertisements within the state capital and authorised the proposed borrowing for basic education funding.
Assembly orders termination of existing billboard contracts
On political advertising, the House directed the immediate termination of all existing contracts and arrangements relating to political billboards and posters within Abakaliki.
It also mandated the Commissioner for Capital City Development to take responsibility for regulating political advertisements and collecting the approved levies.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the Deputy Chief Whip and Chairman of the House Committee on Capital City Development, Hon. Arinze Lucas Chukwu, who represents Ishielu South Constituency.
Presenting the motion, Chukwu expressed concern over what he described as the indiscriminate placement of political posters and billboards across the capital.
He identified public buildings, electric poles, streetlights, bridges and fences as locations where political advertisements had been displayed without adequate regulation.
According to him, the practice affects the appearance of the capital city and creates environmental concerns. He also argued that the state was losing revenue because of weaknesses in the collection of billboard and poster fees.
Chukwu further cited overlapping responsibilities among government agencies involved in collecting advertising charges, saying the situation had contributed to confusion, revenue leakages and alleged cases of double taxation.
He maintained that the existing legal framework empowered the Commissioner for Capital City Development to regulate outdoor advertising within the capital territory.
New rules for political advertisements
Under the approved resolution, political parties, aspirants, organisations, groups and individuals intending to erect billboards or display posters within Abakaliki must pay the applicable levy into a designated government revenue account and obtain an official receipt before installation.
Those who fail to comply risk enforcement action by the relevant authorities.
The Assembly also directed the Commissioner for Capital City Development to identify and designate locations where political posters may be displayed and billboards erected.
A task force is expected to be established to identify and remove unauthorised installations.
The resolution provides for a penalty equivalent to 50 per cent of the applicable levy for individuals or groups found violating the rules, in addition to payment of the original fee.
The Ebonyi State Internal Revenue Service was also directed to terminate contracts, concessions and other arrangements with private consultants or agents responsible for collecting political billboard and poster fees within the capital city.
Seconding the motion, the member representing Ivo Constituency, Hon. Onyebuchi Ogbadu, supported the changes, saying they would help restore order in Abakaliki and improve the state’s internally generated revenue.
Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Moses Ije Odunwa, subsequently put the motion to a vote, and it was unanimously adopted.
The House also mandated its Committees on Capital City Development, Finance and Environment to monitor implementation of the resolution and submit their reports within 30 days.
Assembly approves N9.673bn loan for basic education
In a separate decision, the lawmakers approved Governor Nwifuru’s request to obtain a N9.673 billion loan from Keystone Bank Limited to support counterpart funding obligations under the UBEC programme.
The governor’s request was read during plenary by the House Leader, Hon. Kingsley Ikoro.
According to the letter, the facility would enable the state government and local government councils to meet the funding requirements needed to access federal intervention funds for basic education projects.
Counterpart funding is a requirement for states seeking to access relevant UBEC funds, which can support school infrastructure, learning facilities and other approved educational initiatives.
The letter stated that Keystone Bank had agreed to provide the facility at an annual interest rate of 17 per cent, alongside a management and commitment fee of 0.5 per cent.
Moving the motion for approval, Ikoro urged lawmakers to consider the request promptly, stressing the importance of securing funding for educational development in the state.
The member representing Ohaozara East Constituency, Hon. Igu Chikezie Nwankwo, seconded the motion, describing the proposal as important to expanding access to education.
The member representing Ikwo North Constituency, Hon. Ifeanyi Nwakpu, also backed the request, highlighting the potential benefits of the funding.
The two approvals address separate issues: the regulation of political advertising and revenue collection in Abakaliki, and the financing of Ebonyi State’s counterpart obligations under the basic education programme.
