LAGOS State government on Thursday announced a major reduction of new rates payable by property owners under the Lagos State Land Use Charge (LUC) Law as well as waived the penalty for late payments, saying that the decision followed extensive deliberations with stakeholders on the new rates.
The State’s Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinyemi Ashade, disclosed this at a press briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, saying that the rates payable on commercial properties had been reduced by 50 percent in response to the demands of the people.
According to him, the government has also reduced the charges for owner-occupier with the third party, including industries and manufacturing concerns by 25 percent, saying tax credits had been given for LUC charges already paid in addition to the introduction of instalment payment system.
Ashade, who addressed the briefing alongside dozens of Executive Council members and top government functionaries, including the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, said the decision to reduce the rates was taken at the weekly Council Meeting held on Wednesday and chaired by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
“The Lagos State government, in its desire to build world-class infrastructure and improve the well-being of its citizens reviewed the Land Use Charges payable by all property owners. This exercise was received with mixed feelings by various interest groups who expressed serious concerns.
“In line with this administration’s tradition of inclusive governance and civic engagement, and as a government that is committed to the welfare of its citizens and understands the importance of continuously engaging the populace, we undertook extensive dialogue with various stakeholders on the Land Use Charge (LUC) revised Law and its implementation.
“Consequently, we received a wide range of responses from our dialogue with various stakeholders on the amended LUC Law 2018. The stakeholders included the Organised Private Sector, Nigeria Bar Association, Real estate investors & developers, Landlord & Resident Associations, Community Development Associations, Civil Society Organisations, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries (LCCI), Nigeria Institute of Estate Surveyors &Valuers and several other professional groups,” Ashade said.
The commissioner, while giving a breakdown of the reduction, said for commercial property owners who were the most affected by the amended law, a property valued at N20million for instance which was earlier billed N91,200 would now pay N45,600 per annum as a result of the 50 percent discount.
He said that property occupied by the owner, third party and property used for industrial and manufacturing purposes, which was valued at N20million, would now attract payment of N23,040 per annum as against the earlier N30,720 based on the 25 percent discount.
On owner-occupied property, Ashade explained that for a property valued at N20million, only N7,752 would now be paid per annum as against N9,120 earlier demanded based on 15 percent discount.
“Other rates and reliefs, apart from the ones stated above, will remain unchanged and will be implemented as stipulated by the Law. These include 40% general relief, 10% for 70 years and above, 10% for properties owned by persons living with disability and 10% for properties that are 25 years old and so on and so forth. Owners of property across all categories will now be allowed to make payments by instalments. This will help to reduce the burden of taxation on our citizens.
“We appreciate and commend property owners of all categories who have performed their civic duties faithfully by paying the LUC. Consequently, as a result of these new measures, those who have paid the original amount will be awarded tax credits to the extent of the excess amount paid and carried forward to next year,” Ashade said.
He added that in a bid to create a framework to empower property owners with self-assessment, the Executive would forward a regulation to the State House of Assembly for review of applicable rates and a regime of reliefs on categories of properties pursuant to LUC Law.
While appreciating stakeholders for trusting the current administration with the responsibility of investing the revenue from LUC in infrastructure renewal and overall development of the state, Ashade urged them to endeavour to participate effectively in the legislative proceedings going forward.
Besides, he said the reduction would be implemented immediately as there were provisions of the LUC Law which empowered the government to carry out necessary adjustment to cushion the effect of implementation.
The State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, in his own remark, said under the amended law, there was provision for establishment of five tribunals out of which one had been created in Ikeja and now operational, while the remaining four would be established in other administrative divisions of the state in Epe, Badagry, Ikorodu and Lagos Island.
He said the law also makes provision for aggrieved taxpayers to ventilate their grievances within 45 days through a mediation process, adding that so far over 80 cases had been resolved through mediation.
and then