The Ikeja branch of the Nigerian
Bar Association (NBA) has called on Lagosians not pay the reduced land use
charge recently announced by the Governor Ambode led Lagos State Government.
Chairman of the branch, Adesina
Ogunlana, said this on Wednesday while addressing a press conference in Ikeja.
Ogunlana described the reduction
as a sham, a farce and a fraud, adding that the rates prescribed now subjected
to reduction is based on a fraudulently extractive foundation.
He said Lagosians were not
against taxation, neither were they against increase in taxation but that the
conditions for the acceptance of such increase must be transparent, gradual and
reasonable.
The NBA branch also gave the
Lagos House of Assembly a seven-day ultimatum to publish in the papers the
proposed draft of the Reviewed Land Use Charge Law for interested residents and
stakeholders to study and for adequate participation in public hearing that
will precede any amendment.
His words: “In fact, we NBA Ikeja
branch completely reject the reduction for being a sham, a calculated ploy to
hoodwink the good people of Lagos State and to present the facade that here –
Ambode government is a listening and sensitive government.
“The reduction is a sham, a farce
and a fraud because, the rates prescribed now subjected to reduction is based
on a fraudulently extractive foundation.
“There was no proper evaluation
of properties.
“Property owners were never aware
or involve in any evaluation of their properties. So what we had from
government is ghost evaluation.
“So when the government says it
is slashing cost, they are only deceiving people: the amounts prescribed are
mere fantasies of their imagination.
“We reiterate our rejection of
the Land Use Charge, high litigation cost in the court, bore hole levies, car
registration and all such other oppressive, illegal, extortionate charge of
Lagos State.
“The Land Use Charge Law 2018 as
known now must be repealed. Lagosians, from our own understanding and
interactions are not against taxation in Lagos State and are not even against
increase in taxation.
“However, the conditions for
their acceptance of taxes are: transparent, gradual, reasonable and legally
utilized.
“No Lagosian should be in any
hurry to pay the Land Use Charge.
“No payment should be made until
the government listens and bow to the people’s will.
“Let the parliament within 7 days
from now publish in the papers the proposed draft of the Reviewed Land Use
Charge Law of Lagos State for interested residents and stakeholders to study
for adequate participation in public hearing that will proceed any amendment
and which amendment should be delayed until May 2018.
“Where the government of Lagos
neglect, fail and refused to positively consider these conditions, the NBA
Ikeja will organize and embark on another protest action on Friday, March 29,
2018, to make the government truly answerable to the electorate,” he added.
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