Skip to main content

THE LAND USE CHARGE LAW OF LAGOS STATE, 2018


The Lagos State Government seems to have been influenced by the joint outcome of the rapid pursuit for property, rising demand for provision of urban and rural infrastructures, and the dwindling federal revenue allocations to enact the Land Use Charge Law (2001) to increase internally-generated revenues through property tax.

The Land Use Charge is a consolidation of the ground rent, tenement rate and neighborhood improvement levy by the Land Use Charge Law of 2018, which was first enacted in 2001, and payable on properties in the state.


The 2001 Law provided new formulae and technique for assessing the Charge payable on properties in Lagos state, amongst other provisions; and consolidated and replaced all the state and local government taxes payable on property.

It was designed to help the government generate additional revenue needed to develop the state in the light of increasing demand for provision of urban and rural infrastructure and other expenditures.

On 29th January 2018, the Lagos State House of Assembly, passed the Land Use Charge Law, 2018 (LUCL) with the Governor’s assent. The LUCL, 2018 replaces the Land Use Charge Law, No. 11 of 2001.

The LUCL 2018, applies to real and landed property in Lagos State, and consolidates all property and land-based rates/charges into a single property charge. The current Law as it is, sets the modalities for levying and collection of land use charge in Lagos State.

Nonetheless, the implementation and enforcement of the land use charge law has continued to raise issues in the state. The modus operandi of the law has generated controversies over the years and some residents of Lagos are still confused as to what the land use charge is really about.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

WHAT IS A BUILDING PLANNING PERMIT APPROVAL?

Aman royal partners This is a document issued by a  government  agency certifying a building's  compliance  with applicable  building codes  and other laws, and also indicating it to be in a condition suitable for occupancy. It is evidence that the building complies substantially with the plans and specifications that have been submitted to, and approved by the government authority. Some persons bear in mind that the clogs in securing building plan approvals are too demanding financially and prefer to direct available funds to the construction proper. However, the purpose of obtaining a building plan permit approval is to prove that, according to the law, the house or building is in habitable condition. Here in Lagos State, obtaining a building plan permit is generally required whenever there is: Ø   New Construction/Development - Newly constructed buildings usually need to apply for a building plan pe...

5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE LAND USE ACT

  The LAND USE ACT was enacted  to vest all Land compromised in the territory of each State (except land vested in the Federal government or its agencies) solely in the Governor of the State , who holds such Land in trust for the people and would henceforth be responsible for allocation of land in all urban areas to individuals resident in the State and to organisations for residential, agriculture, commercial and other purposes while similar powers will with respect to non-urban areas are  conferred on Local Governments.(27th March 1978) Commencement. 1.     When was it enacted? The Land Use Decree (now Land Use Act) was promulgated on 29 th , March 1978 following the recommendations of a minority report of a panel appointed by the Federal Military Government of the time to advice on future land policy. With immediate effect, it vested all land in each state of the Federation in the governor of that state (Fed. Rep. of Nigeria, 1978). 2. ...

GOVERNOR'S CONSENT

  Section 22 of the Land Use Act provides for the power of the Governor to give his consent in certain transactions and it states that: “It shall not be lawful for the holder of a statutory right of occupancy granted by the Governor to alienate his right of occupancy or any part thereof by assignment, mortgage, and transfer of possession, subleases or otherwise howsoever without the consent of the Governor first had and obtained”.   This power confers on the Governor the right to consent to any of the transactions stipulated in the Act provided that they are valid. However, if the initial consent has been obtained fraudulently, the Governor may revoke same immediately.   In essence, where a property owner has a valid right to occupy a property, making him/her the equitable interest holder of the property, when such owner decides to resell, mortgage, grant an interest in the property for long periods of time (3 years or more) or carry out other transactions ...