Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa yesterday
gave lawyers two weeks to submit memoranda on the controversial
Land Use Charge Law.
It was at a public hearing conducted by the House of Assembly at
the Lateef Jakande Auditorium, Assembly Complex, Alausa.
The revised law had been reviewed downward by the state
government.
Reactions have trailed the law prompting the government to call
for a public hearing.
A six-man committee was set up to look into the repealed law to
identify the grey arrears.
Impressed by the turnout of stakeholders Obasa said it was the
first time the House would witness such attendance in any bill
passing process.
He said: “It has been predicted that the Lagos State population
will increase over the next years and so the state needs to look
inward for means of revenue generation as we cannot solely rely on
federal allocation.”
He also noted that the contribution made will pave way for
future generation.
Stakeholders came with their observations and recommendations,
which led to a robust argument on the Land Use Charge Law 2018.
Okpabio, who represented the Organised Private Sector (OPS),
recommended that assessment of properties for valuation should be
carried out by professional bodies, and the process should be
sustaned for about three to five years.
This, he said, will give room for an accurate valuation. He
further advised that empty properties should be exempted from
taxation.
Besides, he said that pensioners, as represented in the law,
should not be limited to Lagos State pensioners alone.
He express support for the government proposition on the
reduction of rates as stated earlier by the Commissioner for
Finance, Akinyemi Ashade.
Chukwuka Ikwuazom, Chairman Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos
branch, thanked the House for giving them room to air their
views.
He also appealed for more time to enable his branch study the
amended law.
Olurogba Orinmalade, Chairman of the Nigeria Institution of
Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) commended the adoption of
market value as the basis for determining property assessment.
Godwin Alenka, Chairman, Estate Agent Commission Association,
Lagos branch, advised the government to engage estate agents in
remittance of tax, as they are the ones closer to property
owners.
Abiola Sanni, a property owner and a professor of law of
taxation added that valuation process should be made robust and
inclusive.
Some claimed that the notice for the hearing was ‘’too short’’
and asked for a two-week postponement to enable them ‘’prepare
well’’ for it.
NBA Ikeja Chairman Adesina Ogunlana raised a point of order.
Ogunlana said the stakeholders got the notice of the hearing
late and could not get a copy of the law to be amended; hence, they
were asking for a two-week adjournment.
Ogunlana said: “Yesterday (Monday), we received a letter
inviting us today for this programme as well as a copy of the
amendment at our secretariat of the NBA, Ikeja Branch.
“What we did was to write a letter to the Honourable Speaker
informing him of the necessity for an adjournment of this public
hearing. It is gratifying to note that the Speaker and other
honourable members of the House are interested in our views and the
views of others and that we should not come to a compromise.
“What we did was to first go back to the cabinet office to look
for the law being sought to be amended, that law is not even with
the government.
“Even in this House, I have made enquiries, and we cannot even
get a copy of the law. The truth of the matter is that the
amendment sought, and a copy of the law must be given to the
stakeholders, if we are going to have meaningful contributions.
“The huge task of evaluating the legality and the general
operational dynamics of this law vis-a-vis the amendment is clearly
an assignment beyond the space of 24 hours or a similar period of
time. Our humble request is this, if we may be permitted to
counsel, we request the adjournment of this public hearing in no
less than two weeks’’.
Ogunlana said it would be counter-productive, if the exercise
went on, adding: “what is what doing at all is what doing
well.’’
According to him, there is no way the stakeholders will have
meaningful contributions if they do not have copies of the law and
enough time to study it.
He said the groups would return to the streets tomorrow to
protest against the law.
JAF Lagos Secretary Abiodun Aremu said the group would mobilise
residents against the law.
“We are not pleased with the processes. The will of the people
prevails at all times. The JAF has a record of defending the poor
in Lagos State. We are not satisfied; they should meet us on the
streets because the people will not pay this. We are going to mount
a campaign that people will not pay. Every bad law must be rejected
by the people. You can make a law and once they are not acceptable
to the people, they won’t obey. This money is not payable, it is
not acceptable and we must resist it,” he said.
Lagos State CDHR Secretary Joseph Onaguwa said: “This House has
disrespected the people by declining to add two weeks for us to
have a copy of what they want us to discuss’’.
Lagos State Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) Chairman
Fitzgerald Umah, urged the government to repeal the law and return
to the status quo because of the hardship the people were the
facing.
He said increasing the tax without a corresponding increase in
workers’ salaries would increase the masses’ burden.
The Association of Real Estate Developers of Lagos State said
the masses would bear the burden if the law was allowed to
stay.
Its General Secretary, Mutairu Olumegbon, asked the government
to clarify whether the charge was on the land or the property.
“The charge is highly exorbitant to the level that it will go
back to the poor masses, because it is from what we collect from
people that we will pay the government,” he said.
A representative of Lekki Residents Association, Mr Olorogun
Emadoye, said the law was arbitrary.
According to a stakeholder, Mr Richard Olaoye, the law did not
take the constitution into consideration. The local governments, he
said, should be in charge of LUC before it gets to the state
government.
Another stakeholder, Mr. Babatunde Emmanuel, wondered why his
land use charge moved from less than N2,000 last year to N220,00
this year.
Obasa, who reiterated that the Law making process is a
continuous one, commended all stakeholders who came forward with
their contributions. He assured that the House will look into all
concerns and memorandum submitted by professional bodies across the
state. He also advised that bodies who are yet to submit their
memorandum can do so in the next two weeks.
Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa yesterday
gave lawyers two weeks to submit memoranda on the controversial
Land Use Charge Law.
It was at a public hearing conducted by the House of Assembly at
the Lateef Jakande Auditorium, Assembly Complex, Alausa.
The revised law had been reviewed downward by the state
government.
Reactions have trailed the law prompting the government to call
for a public hearing.
A six-man committee was set up to look into the repealed law to
identify the grey arrears.
Impressed by the turnout of stakeholders Obasa said it was the
first time the House would witness such attendance in any bill
passing process.
He said: “It has been predicted that the Lagos State population
will increase over the next years and so the state needs to look
inward for means of revenue generation as we cannot solely rely on
federal allocation.”
He also noted that the contribution made will pave way for
future generation.
Stakeholders came with their observations and recommendations,
which led to a robust argument on the Land Use Charge Law 2018.
Okpabio, who represented the Organised Private Sector (OPS),
recommended that assessment of properties for valuation should be
carried out by professional bodies, and the process should be
sustaned for about three to five years.
This, he said, will give room for an accurate valuation. He
further advised that empty properties should be exempted from
taxation.
Besides, he said that pensioners, as represented in the law,
should not be limited to Lagos State pensioners alone.
He express support for the government proposition on the
reduction of rates as stated earlier by the Commissioner for
Finance, Akinyemi Ashade.
Chukwuka Ikwuazom, Chairman Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos
branch, thanked the House for giving them room to air their
views.
He also appealed for more time to enable his branch study the
amended law.
Olurogba Orinmalade, Chairman of the Nigeria Institution of
Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) commended the adoption of
market value as the basis for determining property assessment.
Godwin Alenka, Chairman, Estate Agent Commission Association,
Lagos branch, advised the government to engage estate agents in
remittance of tax, as they are the ones closer to property
owners.
Abiola Sanni, a property owner and a professor of law of
taxation added that valuation process should be made robust and
inclusive.
Some claimed that the notice for the hearing was ‘’too short’’
and asked for a two-week postponement to enable them ‘’prepare
well’’ for it.
NBA Ikeja Chairman Adesina Ogunlana raised a point of order.
Ogunlana said the stakeholders got the notice of the hearing
late and could not get a copy of the law to be amended; hence, they
were asking for a two-week adjournment.
Ogunlana said: “Yesterday (Monday), we received a letter
inviting us today for this programme as well as a copy of the
amendment at our secretariat of the NBA, Ikeja Branch.
“What we did was to write a letter to the Honourable Speaker
informing him of the necessity for an adjournment of this public
hearing. It is gratifying to note that the Speaker and other
honourable members of the House are interested in our views and the
views of others and that we should not come to a compromise.
“What we did was to first go back to the cabinet office to look
for the law being sought to be amended, that law is not even with
the government.
“Even in this House, I have made enquiries, and we cannot even
get a copy of the law. The truth of the matter is that the
amendment sought, and a copy of the law must be given to the
stakeholders, if we are going to have meaningful contributions.
“The huge task of evaluating the legality and the general
operational dynamics of this law vis-a-vis the amendment is clearly
an assignment beyond the space of 24 hours or a similar period of
time. Our humble request is this, if we may be permitted to
counsel, we request the adjournment of this public hearing in no
less than two weeks’’.
Ogunlana said it would be counter-productive, if the exercise
went on, adding: “what is what doing at all is what doing
well.’’
According to him, there is no way the stakeholders will have
meaningful contributions if they do not have copies of the law and
enough time to study it.
He said the groups would return to the streets tomorrow to
protest against the law.
JAF Lagos Secretary Abiodun Aremu said the group would mobilise
residents against the law.
“We are not pleased with the processes. The will of the people
prevails at all times. The JAF has a record of defending the poor
in Lagos State. We are not satisfied; they should meet us on the
streets because the people will not pay this. We are going to mount
a campaign that people will not pay. Every bad law must be rejected
by the people. You can make a law and once they are not acceptable
to the people, they won’t obey. This money is not payable, it is
not acceptable and we must resist it,” he said.
Lagos State CDHR Secretary Joseph Onaguwa said: “This House has
disrespected the people by declining to add two weeks for us to
have a copy of what they want us to discuss’’.
Lagos State Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) Chairman
Fitzgerald Umah, urged the government to repeal the law and return
to the status quo because of the hardship the people were the
facing.
He said increasing the tax without a corresponding increase in
workers’ salaries would increase the masses’ burden.
The Association of Real Estate Developers of Lagos State said
the masses would bear the burden if the law was allowed to
stay.
Its General Secretary, Mutairu Olumegbon, asked the government
to clarify whether the charge was on the land or the property.
“The charge is highly exorbitant to the level that it will go
back to the poor masses, because it is from what we collect from
people that we will pay the government,” he said.
A representative of Lekki Residents Association, Mr Olorogun
Emadoye, said the law was arbitrary.
According to a stakeholder, Mr Richard Olaoye, the law did not
take the constitution into consideration. The local governments, he
said, should be in charge of LUC before it gets to the state
government.
Another stakeholder, Mr. Babatunde Emmanuel, wondered why his
land use charge moved from less than N2,000 last year to N220,00
this year.
Obasa, who reiterated that the Law making process is a
continuous one, commended all stakeholders who came forward with
their contributions. He assured that the House will look into all
concerns and memorandum submitted by professional bodies across the
state. He also advised that bodies who are yet to submit their
memorandum can do so in the next two weeks.