Lagos Assembly Finally Amends Land Use Charge Law

The Lagos State House of Assembly has approved the amendment of the 2018 land use charge after several wailings by  citizens Lagosians

Naija News recalls that the 2018 land use charge which got several negative feedback at the passage stage required that a property occupied by the owner and tenant(s) or third parties will be charged at 0.256 percent per annum.

While an investment property fully occupied by tenants or a third party for revenue generation will be charged at 0.76 percent per annum. The law added that a property solely occupied by the owner for a residential purpose will be charged at a rate of 0.076 percent per annum.

However, after months of the complaint by the citizens and lawsuit instituted against the state government, the assembly amended the law after adopting the recommendations and resolutions of its committee.

The adoption came after the six-man ad hoc committee constituted to review the law presented the report of its findings following a public hearing.

Rotimi Olowo, chairman of the committee, said the public hearing revealed that the increase is generally “perceived to be arbitrary and unrealistic in a recessed economy” and that the state government should revert to the land use charge of 2017.

He said participants and stakeholders agreed that a vacant plot of land and unoccupied properties should be exempted from the land use charge liabilities.

“The Committee also posited that Section 17(c) (i) there is no need for 50% payment by an aggrieved owners over disputed charges before their eligibility to appeal; while aggrieved residents/owners should pay the preceding year’s charges while the disputed charges are being resolved; amongst others,” a statement from the assembly read.

“The Committee, however, recommended that as from the commencement of this Law; there should be proper classification of commercial and residential properties in the State for the purpose of levying charges in accordance with the provision of this Law by the property identification officers of the Ministry.”