Following the recent open letter addressed to the Presidency by the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) concerning operations of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), members of the Heads of Advertising Sectoral Groups (HASG) have stressed the need for dialogue for the sake of sanity in the industry.
Source: The Guardian
The Chairman of the HASG, Lanre Adisa, disclosed that the industry reviewed the recent letter addressed to the Presidency, as well as the rejoinder from the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) on the issues raised by ADVAN.
In the interest of industry stability and national economic growth, he added HASG wishes to clarify its position that, HASG unequivocally supports the inauguration of the ARCON Council by the Federal Government; a properly constituted Council, as provided by law, strengthens governance, enhances accountability and ensures balanced oversight of the regulator’s activities; the activation of the Council is in the best interest of both the regulator and the regulated, and will help reinforce transparency and institutional credibility within the industry.
On Advertising Industry Standard of Practice (AISOP), Adisa recalled it was introduced to promote professionalism, standard in industry practice and protect value across the advertising ecosystem.
While implementation challenges may arise in any regulatory framework, he suggested such issues are best addressed through structured engagement and constructive negotiation rather than disengagement.
Saying the advertising industry thrives when all stakeholders – advertisers, agencies, media owners, regulators and allied bodies-work collaboratively, he argued it has become imperative that industry differences be resolved within established platforms of dialogue.
To him, “HASG reiterates its call for ADVAN to return to the HASG forum in the spirit of partnership andcollective problem-solving. In demonstration of its commitment to peace and industry cohesion.
HASG will be engaging separately with the leadership of ADVAN and ARCON in consultative meetings aimed at addressing concerns, identifying areas of common ground and working towards a sustainable resolution of the issues currently facing the industry.
“HASG does not view the present situation as a contest between regulator and advertisers.
Rather, it sees an opportunity to strengthen governance, refine processes and reinforce trust across the ecosystem. Regulation and growth are not mutually exclusive; they must coexist to ensure a stable,”he added.
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