Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has been hailed by many for his “uncommon transformation.” The infrastructure developments in Lagos are obvious. Almost every day, one finds one form of construction or the other going on.
Despite the appreciation of the level of development going on in the state, most residents are bothered. The source of their worry is the government’s Land Use Charge. It is quite prohibitive.
According to reports, there was an increment of 400% on Land Use Charge a few months ago, which most Lagos residents felt was ridiculous. Very many described it as “callousness” on the part of the Lagos State Government.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, as a result, issued the Lagos State government a seven-day ultimatum on March 7, 2018 to reverse the draconian taxation.
Seven days later, the NBA led a protest comprising of rights activists from different Civil Society Organisations (CSOS), student bodies and market women.
However, nothing seems to have changed at the end of the day and the people of the state have not ceased to complain.
A business man who sells electrical appliances at Alaba International Market, who gave his name, simply as Ejiofor, spoke with The Next Edition. He expressed sadness over the issue.
His words: “There was no proper communication between Governor Ambode’s people and ordinary Nigerians. Why didn’t they consult us (the people)? Why should such bills be passed into law by the Lagos State House of Assembly without taking the common man and the plight of Lagosians in general into consideration?
“The best thing to do is to vote out the APC. They have become too comfortable.”
A political analyst, Tunde Ashiru, who spoke with The Next Edition, gave his thoughts on taxation in Lagos and why Ambode should tread carefully.
His words: “Land Use Charge affects almost everyone. Irrespective of status in the society, people complain about it. Ambode’s projects are pro-people but his taxes are anti-people. If he is not careful his enemies in the APC will team up with those in the PDP to work against him in 2019. The exorbitant increment of the Land Use is a strong weapon for his opponents. Remember those who hammer on government’s anti-people policies get the ear of the people.”
Many would recall the choice of Ambode as the governor of the state over aspirants like Dr. Leke Pitan and Dr. Kadri Obaefmi Hamzat, did not go down well with many members of the party. His predecessor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, preferred Hamzat, but the will of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, national leader of the APC, had to be done. Jagaban’s order, so to speak, must be obeyed, hence the eventual emergence of Ambode.
The current national legal adviser of the party, Dr. Muiz Banire did not also support Ambode. That brought about division in the party. Banire and Fashola are referred to as “Abuja politicians” who use their positions to frustrate Ambode. The two Senior Advocates of Nigeria were fingered by members of the APC in Lagos as the sponsors of the protest against the increment of Land Use Charge led by the NBA.
On May 19, the division within the APC became more obvious when the party conducted ward, local government and state congresses recently, with parallel executives formed.
A faction of the party in the state held a parallel congress to challenge the Tinubu led-faction of the party. While Tinubu’s faction produced Tunde Balogun, Mr. Foud Oki, the founder of Broom United, a pressure group within the party, emerged as the factional chairman.
Again, Banire and Fashola were accused by members of the party in Lagos of being behind that crisis.
Meanwhile the Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan has urged residents of Lagos State not to allow politicians incite them against the government. According to him some statements about the Land Use Charge were not true.
Speaking with The Next Edition in a telephone interview, Mr. Bamigbetan said, “With the reduction, there is now payment by instalment. There are no more penalties for late payments. Let me make it clear, there is no Land Use Charge for retirees and pensioners. If you are disabled, you are given 10% discount.”
Asked about the retirees that were given the bills, he said, “They should go and complain.”
“This bill was passed into law by members of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Anyone who is opposed to this after the reduction should go to the tribunal. Things should be done orderly. There are rules for everything,” he added.
He denied claims in some quarters that the charge was targeted at ethnic minorities and as a result might affect Ambode’s chances in 2019.
Said he: “People saying such are politicians. People will want to play politics with it. We have also warned the NBA not to allow politicians use them.”
However, despite the reduction the state government claimed to have carried out on the Land Use Charge and the consideration given to some like retirees and the physically challenged, the complaints about it have been unceasing. Only a further reduction or return to the old rates would make life better for the people, many have said. But would the government be bothered? Would the issue count against Ambode in 2019? Time will tell, as many are bound to say.
