1 month ago
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President, ADVAN, Osamede Uwubanmwen
The Advertisers Association of Nigeria has raised concerns about the recent plans by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria to establish a Nigeria Stock Image Bank.
The association, in a statement signed by its executive council, responded to ARCON’s unveiling of the initiative and the formation of a committee to lay the groundwork for the NSIB’s establishment.
“ADVAN does not have a representative on the panel. If there is any advertiser on that panel, they are there in their organisational capacity and do not represent or speak on behalf of advertisers,” the association noted.
Stressing the importance of a more inclusive approach in developing such a comprehensive system, it claimed that the establishment of a platform intended for commercial interactions and housing proprietary works necessitated the engagement of all relevant regulatory agencies with constitutional oversight.
“This inclusion is essential to ensure that regulation for the system is appropriately managed by the constitutionally empowered agencies in charge of such matters,” ADVAN stated.
It noted that the approach would help to forestall new regimes of unwanted multi-level taxation in an already overregulated industry.
The association mentioned that the establishment of the NSIB should not interfere with advertisers’ rights to choose their vendors and contractors while conducting legal business activities.
Meanwhile, ADVAN asserted that as organisations with the constitutional right to determine their contractual and partnership structures, they will not accept any system that seeks to restrict these rights.
The statement also touched on the principles of a free market economy, advocating for a system that operates on a ‘free to participate’ basis for both suppliers and buyers.
ADVAN further warned against any attempt to monopolise commercial activities but suggests that the image bank system should communicate strong value as a means of attracting participation, rather than resorting to any form of illegal ‘fiat’ or other unconstitutional methods.
While ADVAN expressed a desire for the growth and thriving of the marketing and communication industry, it, however, voiced concern over what it perceived as a lack of proper research and holistic stakeholder inclusion in policy creation.
It criticised what it calls a facade of inclusion, where ADVAN’s presence is acknowledged but its contributions are allegedly ignored.
“Finally, ADVAN desires that the marketing and communication industry move forward and thrive. It is, however, disturbing that policy creation in the industry is not achieved by an all-inclusive stakeholder approach, but by the submissions of a selected few.
“ADVAN, as a critical stakeholder in the marketing communications industry, will always be at the forefront in supporting stakeholder-inclusive, well-researched regulations for the development and viability of our industry,” the association averred.
