Land use charge: Lawyers stage protest against Ambode's government

Land use charge: Lawyers stage protest against Ambode's government

- The distribution of the 2018 land use charge demand notices in Lagos state started recently

- This notices given to owners of properties across the state has sparked off protest from residents of Nigeria's mega city

- A protest was held against the policy on Tuesday, March 13, by some lawyers in Lagos

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch on Tuesday, March 13, commenced the much talked about protest against the reviewed land use charge law in Lagos state.

The NBA chairman, Adesina Ogunlana, led members of the branch and others in the protest despite speculations that the protest may not hold.

According to Daily Independent, attempts by the Lagos state police commissioner to stop the protest failed. However, the police later agreed to provide security cover for the lawyers.

Land use charge: Lawyers stage protest against Ambode's government
The lawyers describe the policy as oppressive

READ ALSO: We have no contract with Lagos government over new land use charge - Alpha Beta

Addressing the protesters this morning, Ogulana urged them to be peaceful and focus on the objective of the strike, which, he said, “is a clear no to oppressive tax regime.”

According to the Lagos state commissioner of finance, Akinyemi Ashade, the state House of Assembly decided to review the law in the light of some of the inefficiencies that had become associated with the old land use charge act.

Land use charge: Lawyers stage protest against Ambode's government
They are protesting against the enforcement of the recent increase in the land use charge by Lagos state government.

He added that the state government is very mindful of the impact of the current economic situation in the country on residents of the state, pointing out that the new land use charge regime has several inbuilt reliefs for Lagosians.

Lagos state began the distribution of the 2018 land use charge demand notices for properties across the state in February. Legit.ng gathered that the distribution ought to have been carried out much earlier in the year, but was 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 Thursday, February 8.

READ ALSO: Lagos government adopts online payment, bans revenue collection in cash

Ambode's second term is shaking, says Lagos woman - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng

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