Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, denied collecting N20,000 as charges from the state chapter of the Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners for its rehearsal at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.
The state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sesan Fagbayi, disclosed this in a statement made available to our correspondent.
Fagbayi said what the association was asked to pay was a service charge meant for cleaning services of the facilities, including public toilets and the premises used for the rehearsal, saying the association’s claims were misleading and could tarnish the image of the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led government.
Fagbayi explained that, “The Association applied to the ministry for the use of the facility and was granted approval.
“However, recourse was not made to the ministry after collecting letter of approval which indicated service charge fees, rather they went ahead to tarnish the image of the state government.”
He stated that the ANTP’s statement against the state government was unfair and unjustifiable to the administration which had been supporting the association and many others in the entertainment sector.
The commissioner revealed that the government has not contradicted Section 6.1.3. of the National Cultural Policy of Nigeria.
He assured them that the present administration would not relent in supporting the tourism industry.
However, speaking in a statement signed by the state ANTP Governor, Bashir Sanni, the association said it has requested for the permission of the state government to hold rehearsals under trees within the premises of the June 12 Cultural Centre in preparation for the World International Theatre Day slated for March 27
Sanni said the that government replied through a letter dated March 8, 2024 with reference number CUL.046T1/3 requesting ANTP to pay N20,000 per day into the bank account of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
He explained that, “In other words according to this letter signed by F.J, Osanyinpeju, ANTP is to pay N140,000 for a week or N280,000 for two weeks etc. for rehearsal and not a performance, even under a tree with attendant unpredictable weather.”
Sanni revealed that what his association has, however, requested was no big deal because holding rehearsals within the confines of a cultural centre, including the National Theatre with due permission has always been a regular practice in the industry.
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