Professional bodies condemn new Abuja land charges

The Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, the Nigerian Institute of Building as well as Property Owners and Developers in Abuja yesterday joined the House of Representatives to condemn the recent 900 per cent increase in land premium in the Federal Capital Territory.

The representatives of these professional associations spoke at a public hearing organised by the joint committee of the House on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the FCT Area Councils.

However, the Federal Capital Territory Administration insisted that the increase was inevitable in view of the need to fast-track development of the territory.

Abdul Ibrahim, President of NBA (FCT chapter), said the minister, Adamu Aliero, violated sections 219 and 298 of the 1999 Constitution by introducing the increase without recourse to the National Assembly.

Mr. Ibrahim added that the minister has the dual role of a governor and minister while the National Assembly serves as the House of Assembly, hence any law for the administration of the territory must be passed by the National Assembly.

“The increase is not humane and it will aggravate corruption among civil servants,” Mr. Ibrahim said.

“With the increase, are we bridging or widening the gap between the rich and poor? It is an assault of the rule of law,” he added.

‘FCT Land is not for the poor’

The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, represented by Eteng I. Eteng, said the increase is “astronomical and unaffordable to the generality of the public. The message of the increased charges is clearly that land in the FCT is not for the poor.”

Mr. Eteng said the increase will negatively impact general price levels in the economy in geometric proportions. “This is not an appropriate time to afflict our people with a policy that would further aggravate their poor circumstance,” But, the minister of state for FCT, Chuka Odom, who represented Mr. Aliero said in a 15-page memo he presented that the increment was inevitable, adding that it is geared towards generating revenue for rapid development of the territory, which he noted, is eight years behind the target set by the Master plan.

“The FCT cannot implement Mr. President’s seven point agenda on rapid infrastructure development without tapping on the window of opportunities provided by the increase in the premium of the Rights of Occupancy.” Members of the House led by chairman of the committee on FCT, Ali Atai Aidoko and his Area Council counterpart, David Idoko were unanimous in their view that the minister’s action was in violation of the 1999 Constitution since the increment was not approved by the National Assembly, which serves as the legislative body for the FCT.

Mr. Idoko said the FCT was carved out for all Nigerians, but that with the hike in land premium, it is clear that the government wants to discriminate against the less privileged Nigerians particularly civil servants.

A member of the FCT committee, Umar Bature cited section 299 (a) of the Constitution and argued that the minister lacks the powers to unilaterally review or fix land rates in the FCT.

Mr. Bature said only the National Assembly has been empowered by the Constitution to make laws for the governance of the FCT.