News

Lagos Land Use Charge Against Democratic Ideals – LCCI Boss

Published

7 years ago

March 9, 2018

Eric

Sanctions to defaulters under the Reviewed Land Use Charge Law of Lagos are too severe and not in tandem with democratic ideals.

The President of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Babatunde Ruwase, made the observation in Lagos on Friday during a stakeholders’ forum on Lagos Land Use Charge Law, 2018.

He said that while the chamber would not encourage or support any form of infractions of the law, the sanctions must be proportional and fair.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Land Use Charge law stipulates a 25 per cent increase in charge if payment is not made between 45 and 75 days.

It also prescribed a 50 per cent increase after 105 days and a 100 per cent increase if payment is not made between 75 and 105 days.

The law further prescribed that a property shall be liable to enforcement if payment is not made after 135 days of notice.

“There would be instances where the citizens are willing to pay but just do not have the capacity to pay, given the state of the economy.

“The Nigerian economy is only just gradually recovering from recession. Many companies are yet to return to profitability.

“Industrial capacity utilisation has declined, purchasing power is still very weak, occupancy rate in many commercial and residential properties are still very low.

“All of these have adversely impacted the returns on investment in property market and points to the fact that current market value of property may not necessarily reflect the rental income for the property,” Ruwase said.

He said that only 300,000 property were paying the charge, while 700, 000 property were identified for tax payment.

According to him, emphasis should be on getting more property into the tax net, rather than imposing additional burden on those currently on the database.

He urged government to explore the platform presented by VAIDS to capture more property owners into the net.

Ruwase suggested that implementation of the law be suspended, while the grey areas should be sorted out in the interest of fairness, equity and natural justice.

According to him, there is no evidence to show that adequate dissemination of information to critical stakeholders had been done; noting that the conditions stipulated for law review occurred before its implementation.

He said that stakeholders were concerned that assessed value used for computation of the law was high and difficult to justify.

According to him, the business community appreciates government’s efforts in investing in infrastructure and security and businesses are willing and ready to pay their tax.

He appealed to the government to create a tax environment that would be fair, equitable, inclusive, transparent and investment friendly.

Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, said the law was aimed at entrenching a regime of self assessment that would allow property owners to make their own calculation and know their rate with the help of professional valuers.

Ashade said various reliefs had been made available to payers, including a general 40 per cent relief for all property liable to LUC payment.

According to him, property of N10m and below constitute 75 per cent of property owners in the state and are expected to pay N5,000 per annum as land use charge.

Ashade said the new law also established an Assessment Appeal Tribunal which authorises the adoption of Alternative Dispute Resolution in resolving disputes concerning LUC, provided the appeal was lodged within 30 days after the receipt of the notice.

(NAN)

News

Nothing Will Happen If Fubara is Impeached, Wike Brags

Published

3 minutes ago

March 12, 2025

Eric

The immediate-past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has bragged that heaven will not fall if the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly p impeaches his successor, Siminalayi Fubara.

At a media parley in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike, who is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said there is nothing wrong if the lawmakers decide to sack Fubara for alleged impeachable offences including withholding their salaries for months.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) powerbroker said: “If you have committed an offence to be impeached, what’s wrong? Is it a criminal offence? It’s provided in the constitution. Am I a member of the Assembly?

“If you have committed an infraction of the constitution and the Assembly deems it fit to say, you should be impeached.

“I have heard people say: ‘Oh, if they impeach him, there will be a breakdown of law and order’. Rubbish! Nothing will happen.”

Wike said if the Amaewhule-led House wasn’t disposed to peace, the Assembly would have gone on a six-month recess after the Supreme Court verdict.

He rubbished the letter written to the Assembly by Fubara, saying he should have done better.

On Friday, February 28, 2025, the Supreme Court handed a raft of decisions on the protracted political situation in the oil-rich South-South State.

In the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, the five-man panel of the court unanimously dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Fubara challenging the validity of the House of Assembly presided over by Amaewhule as the Speaker.

In dismissing Fubara’s appeal, the court ordered Amaewhule to resume sitting immediately with other elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The apex court barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation, and other agencies from releasing funds to the Government of Rivers State until it purges itself of what the court described as flagrant disobedience to court orders.

Also, the apex court declared the local government election conducted in the state on October 5, 2024, as invalid.

Fubara subsequently said he would fully implement the judgments of the apex court and directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to come up with modalities for the fresh election.

The electoral commission fixed August 9, 2025, to conduct a fresh local government poll in the State.

The Assembly later issued an arrest warrant against RSIEC Chief, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), over failure to appear before the House.

Furthermore, the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, in a letter dated March 7, 2025, sought a meeting with the lawmakers for March 10, 2025 to discuss the re-presentation of the 2025 budget and a peace talk, but the Assembly asked the governor to channel his invitation properly.

News

Despite Being Locked Out, I’ll Re-present Budget, Fubara Declares

Published

30 minutes ago

March 12, 2025

Eric

Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed dissatisfaction over the action of the Rivers State House of Assembly, which denied him entry to the quarters on Wednesday.

Fubara addressed residents of the Khana Local Government Area during the commissioning of some health facilities shortly after the drama at the Assembly quarters.

The governor insisted that he communicated his intention to visit the lawmakers to Speaker Martins Amaewhule before he showed up at the quarters to re-represent the 2025 Budget as directed by the Assembly following the verdict of the Supreme Court on February 28, 2025.

“I still believe, maybe, they might be instructed later. If they are instructed, I’m still ready to come any day to get this particular issue sorted out,” the governor said.

Also, the Rivers State Government shared a letter notifying the House of the governor’s visit.

On Friday, February 28, 2025, the Supreme Court handed a raft of decisions on the protracted political situation in the oil-rich South-South state.

In dismissing Fubara’s appeal, the court ordered Amaewhule to resume sitting immediately with other elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Also, the apex court declared the local government election conducted in the state on October 5, 2024, as invalid.

The electoral commission fixed August 9, 2025, to conduct a fresh local government poll in the state. The Assembly later issued an arrest warrant against RSIEC Chief, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), over failure to appear before the House.

Furthermore, the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, in a letter dated March 7, 2025, sought a meeting with the lawmakers for March 10, 2025 to discuss the re-presentation of the 2025 budget and a peace talk but the Assembly asked the governor to channel his invitation properly.

News

Rivers Assembly Denies Fubara Entry into Premises to Re-present 2025 Budget

Published

7 hours ago

March 12, 2025

Eric

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara was on Wednesday denied access to the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters, where lawmakers currently hold plenary sessions.

According to a Daily Post report, the governor arrived at the Assembly quarters on Wednesday morning to present the state 2025 budget but was met with a locked gate, preventing his entry.

Fubara had earlier pledged to implement the Supreme Court judgment, which includes the formal presentation of the 2024 budget.

The budget was initially presented to a four-member Assembly faction in December 2023.

Last week, the Assembly issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the governor to present the 2025 budget.

In response, Fubara stated that he was awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court judgment before proceeding.

On Sunday, in a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, and addressed to Speaker Martins Amaewhule, Fubara invited lawmakers for discussions on the Supreme Court ruling.

The discussions were expected to cover issues such as the budget presentation and the payment of outstanding salaries to the legislators, amongst other issues to chart a way forward for the state.