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Developing the creative industry through taxation

Advocacy Roundtable

World Theatre Day, which celebrates the importance of theatre arts around the world, took place on 27 March, 2018. In keeping with the objective of World Theatre Day, the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) organized an Advocacy Roundtable entitled “Developing the Creative Industry through Taxation” to discuss important issues that pertain to theatre practitioners and the creative industry in Nigeria. Our partner, Mr. Samuel Salako, moderated the discussions at the Round Table.

 The key issues that were discussed include:

  1. The contribution of the creative industry to the GDP of Nigeria.
  2. The responsibility of the Lagos State Government to provide infrastructure for the creative industry.
  3. The various projects outlined by the Lagos State Government for the benefit of the creative industry including the proposed establishment of film houses in Lagos State and funding for these projects.
  4. The legal obligation to pay tax.
  5. The need for a Summit for all practitioners and service providers within the creative industry in Nigeria to discuss issues that will advance the progress of the industry.
  6. The novel initiative of NANTAP to ensure that its members are tax compliant, based on terms that are practical and beneficial to the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service and NANTAP.
  7. Practical measures to ensure that the members of NANTAP are tax compliant i.e. the establishment of collective terms of engagement, the deduction and remission of personal income tax and the passage of a law to regulate the wages and taxes of the members of NANTAP.

The Lagos State Government and NANTAP are expected to discuss the implementation of measures to achieve the mutual objectives of NANTAP and the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service. Participants at the Round Table included Mr Makinde Adeniran, Chairman, Lagos Chapter of NANTAP; Mrs. Saidat Otulana, Director of Culture, Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture; Mr. Ayodele Adebayo, Director, New Growth Department, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service; Mr. Femi Odugbemi, a Nigerian filmmaker, screenwriter, cinematographer, director and producer; Mr. Muyiwa Ogungbenro and Mr. Otu-Ekong Ukoyen, practice leads in the law firm of Olajide Oyewole LLP.