The Lagos State Government in its bid to demonstrate an inclusive, responsive and responsible government conducted a public hearing on Tuesday at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium inside the Lagos State House of Assembly complex.
It will be recalled that based on various reactions, the government re-enacted Land Use Charge Law, which has gone through a second reading and a downward review announced by the Lagos State Government.
This prompted the government to call for a public hearing.
A six-man committee was set up weeks ago to look into the repealed law in order to identify the grey arrears of the law. T
The committee extracted from the 37 sections of the law eight sections identified to tally with the people’s concerns and demands.
These eight sections have now been put forward for amendment.
Addressing the hearing, the Speaker, House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, said this will be the first time since 2003 the House will witness such an outpour of the crowd in any bill passing process, which simply indicated that the Land Use Charge issue concerns the majority of Lagos residents.
Obasa said: “It has been said 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 alone.”
He also noted that it is the contributions made as citizens that will pave the way for the future generation.
Stakeholders in various fields in the state came with their observations and recommendations, which led to a robust argument on the Land Use Charge Law 2018.
A. Okpabio, who represented the Organized Private Sector, after submitting a memorandum, recommended that assessment of properties for valuation should be carried out by professional bodies alone and the process should be on for about three years to five years to give room for accurate valuation.
Okpabio further advised that empty properties should be exempted from taxation.
Also, he suggested that pensioners, as represented in the law, should not be limited to Lagos State pensioners alone but all retirees in the state.
He expressed support for government’s proposition on further reduction of rates as stated earlier by the Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State, Akinyemi Ashade.
Chukwuka Ikwuazom, the Chairman Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos State Branch, thanked the House for letting them air their views on the controversial law.
Ikwuazom suggested that regulations that provide for reliefs and grand concessions are made a part of the principal law.
He said this will inspire more confidence in the people and also avoid being altered in the process.
He also appealed for more time in order to enable his branch to study the amended law and send in a memorandum.
Olurogba Orimolade, the Chairman of the Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, commended the adoption of Market Value as the basis for determining property assessment.
Orimolade also noted that a lot of ignorance has surrounded the issue of Market Value and Reliefs as presented in the Land Use Charge Law, and advised that it should be addressed.
He, however, requested that the House grants his association extra period in order to put up a technical report on the law.
Godwin Alenka, the Chairman, Estate Agent Commission Association, Lagos State branch, advised that government should engage estate agents in the state to ensure remittance of tax as they are the ones closer to property owners and can hold them accountable.
Abiola Sanni, a property owner and a professor of law of taxation, added that valuation process should be made robust and inclusive.
Sanni advised that adequate provisions be made for the process in order to be a successful one.
Hon. S. O. P Agunbiade, the Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, who reiterated that law making process is a continuous one, commended all stakeholders who came forward with their contributions.
Agunbiade assured that the House will look into all concerns and memorandum submitted by professional bodies across the state.
He also advised that bodies that are yet to submit their memorandum can do so in the next two weeks.
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