Lagos appeals for cooperation as land use charge implementation begins

The Lagos State government has begun the distribution of 2018 Land Use Charge demand notices for properties across the state. The distribution commenced last week after it had been delayed by a review of the Land Use Charge Act by the state House of Assembly.

The review process entailed a repeal of the old law, public hearings and enactment of a replacement by the House of Assembly on January 28, before it was signed into law on February 8.

According to the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, the House of Assembly decided to review the law in the light of some inefficiencies associated with the old Land Use Charge act. “As noted by the Speaker of the House, only a small fraction of taxable properties were actually remitting Land Use Charge to the government. To make matters worse, the land use charge rates had over time gradually become rather obsolete.”

In addition, he said, determination of the rates payable by property owners was often questionable because the formula could be applied in a subjective manner.

Ashade added that government is mindful of the impact of the current economic situation in the country on residents, pointing out that the new regime has several inbuilt reliefs for Lagosians.

“For instance, senior citizens, aged 70 years and above, who live in their own houses, are exempted from paying Land Use Charge. The same applies to properties owned by religious and not-for-profit organizations where such properties are not profit-yielding. Physically challenged citizens also enjoy considerable discounts on their computed charges. In the same light, every Land Use Charge bill benefits from a discount of 40 per cent and an additional 15 per cent discount if the bill is paid promptly.”