The Nigerian House of Representatives is set to pass a law ending the practice of annual rent payment in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. According to report, the old system will be replaced with a monthly rent payment system.
To achieve this, therefore, the House has mandated its Committee on FCT to collaborate with players in the real estate sector in the territory. This is to enable the Committee to work out a modality for the monthly rent payments.
The report stated that Committee will also review the real estate sector and recommend effective policies to regulate the activities of landlords.
This resolution was a sequel to a motion moved on Wednesday by Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo (PDP, Akwa-Ibom) during plenary.
Recall that the National Assembly is the lawmaking body for the FCT in line with section 299 of the 1999 Constitution, as Amended
In moving the motion, Ukpong-Udo stated that landlords in the territory adopt a strict annual rent payment system to the detriment of tenants.
“Within the Federal Capital Territory, monthly rent payments are uncommon. With landlords usually demanding a minimum of at least one year’s rent, while others require two years upfront.
“Nigeria is ripe for an inclusive rental system that reduces housing burden on working-class families. Which will offer affordable monthly rentals for low- and middle-income earners,” he said.
Ukpong-Udo also lamented the arbitrary increment of rent by landlords. He lamented this practice has pushed average civil servants to satellite towns.
The legislator, therefore, urged the Government to intervene by building mass houses for civil servants.
He said, “Government must come to the rescue of the residents and formulate policies that will regulate house rents. And also, the activities of landlords in Abuja. There is a need to build affordable houses for civil servants in Abuja. This will help to reduce the burden of paying exorbitant rent in Abuja.”
Premium Times reports that when the motion was put to vote by the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu, it was unanimously taken.
The motion comes on the heels of complaints by Abuja residents of the high cost and mode of payment of rent.
Some residents have decried the difficulty involved in getting accommodation due to the high cost. This is even as a few are asked to make advance payment of two or three years.
“The cost of rent ranges from hundreds of thousands to several millions depending on the size, location and other factors.
According to report, the development has made many opt for accommodation in satellite towns like Nyanya, Kubwa, Lugbe, and Kuje, among others.
Recall that the Senate in the 9th Assembly had considered a bill to regulate rent in the FCT. However, the bill did not complete the legislative cycle until the tenure of that Assembly elapsed.
source: Premium Times
