NASS to enact revised APCON enabling Act

There are strong indications that the National Assembly may soon enact into law the amended enabling Act of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).

The document which had been long standing on the floor of the National Assembly is presently in its  advanced stage, and, hopes are high that a favorable passage of the law would soon be realized before the end of June this year.

Dropping hints to this effect was  the Registrar of APCON, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo while speaking at the occasion of  formal induction of 63 new Fellows of the advertising profession  which held in Lagos recently.

Fadolapo, addressing a gathering of advertising industry players, including former Council Chairmen and Registrars of APCON, noted that most of the  challenges being encountered by the regulatory agency overtime, were due to inadequate legislative back up to its operations.

He, however, expressed optimism that the challenges were soon to abate, as the APCON enabling Act’s amendment was currently at its advanced stage at the National Assembly, and that a favorable passage of the law would soon be concluded.

“Most of the challenges we encounter as a regulatory agency are due to inadequate legislative back up. This will hopefully abate soon”

“ The APCON enabling Act’s amendment is at an advanced stage at the Nation Assembly and we are optimistic that a favorable passage of the law would be concluded before the end of June this year”

The Council boss further disclosed that in line with its plans to reduce unlawful and unethical practices and  encourage the business of APCON – licensed organizations, the Council is soon to introduce a new vetting regime starting  from 1st April, 2022, adding that only licensed advertising organizations would be permitted to apply to the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) for vetting.

He explained that “the Corporate License Regime of APCON has been strengthen to make sure that we reduce the encroachment of non-registered professionals in the business space of advertising and marketing communications in Nigeria, adding that   in the same light, the Council was Intensifying efforts to monitor and enforce compliance by licensed advertising organizations, as it is expected that the scope of licenses must be adhered to while the conditions upon which a license is issued must be strictly adhered to.