Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has directed the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, ARCON to collaborate with the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC and key industry stakeholders to eliminate advertising-related debts and enforce strict adherence to payment thresholds across the sector.
The directive, aimed at strengthening the nation’s media and advertising ecosystem, is expected to support national development and align with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. It also mandates ARCON to enforce stricter payment discipline to protect media organisations, attract investment, ensure job security, and stabilise industry revenue.
Under the new framework, all payments for advertising services must be completed within 45 days in line with the Advertising Industry Standards of Practice, AISOP. Any delay beyond this period will attract interest at prevailing rates.
Media Purchase Orders, MPOs and Local Purchase Orders, LPOs are required to fully comply, with stakeholders urged to maintain transparency in all transactions.
The Minister also outlined a structured disengagement protocol for advertisers seeking to terminate contracts with agencies.
Advertisers must first reconcile and settle all outstanding financial obligations with outgoing agencies before appointing new ones. Both outgoing and incoming agencies are required to formally engage to prevent ethical or financial disputes.
In addition, ARCON has been directed to establish an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism to handle conflicts through mediation, conciliation, and arbitration, ensuring quicker and more amicable settlements within the industry.
Director-General of ARCON, Olalekan Fadolapo, reaffirmed the council’s commitment to fully implementing the Minister’s directive, noting that the initiative will sanitise the advertising space, promote prompt payments, and uphold professional standards.
Stakeholders across the advertising and media value chain have been urged to comply with the new measures designed to foster accountability, discipline, and sustainable growth in the sector.
