The Lagos State Government has reversed the rate of Land Use Charge, LUC, to pre-2018 while upholding the 2018 method of valuation.
It has also set up multiple payment channels and a call centre with the number 0700 LAGOS LUC for efficient service and resolution of issues.
The Commissioner for Finance, Dr Rabiu Olowo who made this known during a news briefing in Alausa Ikeja said the 2018 LUC Law has been repelled and replaced with the LUC 2020, while penalties for defaulters in 2017, 2018 and 2019, have been waived.
The immediate past administration had increased the LUC, a move which generated lots of protests and agitation amongst property owners in the State
Dr Olowo said in addition to multiple channels of payment including mobile and internet banking, residents can also walk in to strategic centres across the State to pay the LUC
He stated that self occupied property of pensioners, including all retirees from private and public institutions in the State and persons who have attained the age of 60years and has ceased to be actively engaged in any activities or business for remuneration is now exempted from the LUC.
Listing additional details of the new law, The Commissioner stated that profit oriented Cemeteries and private libraries are no longer exempted from payment of the Land Use Charge, while the charge on vacant property, open empty land and agricultural land has been significantly reduced by as much as zero-point-zero-seven-six to eighty seven percent
Dr Olowo pegged the aggregate of the reduction at forty-eight percent across board.
While appreciating Lagosians who have been committed to the payment of their charge over the years, Dr Olowo appealed to aggrieved property owners to make use of the Land use charge tribunal.
He said a 25 percent early payment discount has also been introduce to mitigate the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on residents.
“Let me state that we share in the pain which the pandemic has brought on every household including the government. While we hope for the return of normalcy to business activities across the State, it is important to let you know that, the payment of LUC is not intended to inflict any hardship on anyone, we believe that we are all partners in progress and together, we can achieve a Greater Lagos of our dream” He said
The Commissioner said with the reform in the LUC, the State revenue would decrease by about five billion naira annually.
Omolara Omosanya.
pub-5160901092443552
Related Posts
