Land Use Charge slash shows Ambode runs populist govt, says Lagos Assembly

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday described Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as a populist and welfarist governor, following his administration’s downward review of the controversial Land Use Charge.
Mr Tunde Braimoh, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Publicity, Strategy and Security said that people’s will remains the ultimate in democracy.
The State Government on Thursday buckled under pressure, announcing a downward review of its new Land Use Charge (LUC) that had been widely criticised.
Several groups, including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Nigeria Bar Association, Ikeja Branch had kicked against the hike in the charge, approximated at 400 per cent.
In the downward review announced on Thursday, Commercial Property Owners, were granted 50% discount.
Property Occupied by Owner and Third Party & Property used for Industrial and Manufacturing Purposes were given 25% discount.
Owner-occupied Property also got 15% discount, while penalty regime for late payment of  the LUC was waived completely.
According to the state government,  some other rates and reliefs, apart from those cited, however remain unchanged and will be implemented as stipulated by Law.
Also, owners of property across all categories will now be allowed to make payments by installments.
Those who have paid the original amount will also be awarded tax credits.
Reacting, Braimoh, the spokesman for House, said democracy in its simplest and most widely accepted description is the government of the people, for the people and by the people.
“In any democratic experiment, the people are sovereign and their will reigns supreme.
“As a populist, people-oriented government therefore, due considerations must be accorded the will of the people without materially impeding  the fast tracked developmental programs earmarked by government.
“Ambode runs a welfarist regime of social engineering whereby the needs, yearnings and aspirations of the people are well articulated, aggregated and evaluated.
” This is such that the greatest happiness goes to the greatest number of the people ” he said.
According to him, any policy or program of government must be benchmarked  against the will of the people and it must pass the people’s happiness test.
“Governor Ambode has demonstrated ultra-high level of statesmanship and public spirit by hearkening to the people’s call.
“It is however hoped and believed that the love, kindness and admiration reposed in the people by their populist Governor will be recognized and reciprocated.
“To whom much is given, much is expected,” the lawmaker, representing Kosofe Constituency II in the Assembly said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, has rejected the 50 per cent reduction of the Land Use Charge recently reviewed by the Lagos State Government.
The Chairman, Mr Adeshina Ogunlana, said on Thursday that the reduction is “unacceptable”.
“I am yet to hear officially from the  government about that reduction or see a document about it,  I have only seen news flash which I will treat only as a rumour.
“The rumoured reduction is not acceptable, I don’t trust this government; this is democracy and if there is going to be a reduction you have to consult with the people.
“The reduction is arbitrary and lacks legal basis. Due process must be followed, the law must be repealed and amended.
“You cannot repeal a law by proclamation, we are not in the military era where laws are made by decrees and proclamation,” he said.
On the association’s next line of action, Ogunlana said: “The NBA Ikeja branch will hold a press briefing to address this issue.”
The State Government had increased the Land Use Charge by 400 per cent,  motor rate taxes by 1, 600 per cent, court Fees by 2,000 per cent and bore hole taxes by 68,000 per cent.
Following the raise, the NBA Ikeja Branch had on March 13 in a solidarity with various human rights groups staged a peaceful protest from its Secretariat at Ikeja to the seat of power — the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa.
The protesters had at the State Secretariat presented a letter from the NBA to Ambode, who was represented by Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy.
The letter dated March 12 was entitled, “Call For A Re-think and Review of The Land Use Charge Tax, All Other Excessive Taxes, Levies and Charges in Lagos State”.
In reaction to the protest of the lawyers and activists, the Lagos State Government on Thursday announced a 50 percent reduction of the Land Use Charge.
The reduction was part of the conclusions reached at the weekly meeting of the State Executive Council chaired by Ambode.