With the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode flagging off the
payment of Land Use Charge on Monday, February 19, 2018, Lagosians have
also trooped to the banks to make their payments, duly observing their
civic duties as owners and occupiers of properties in Lagos State.
The Lagos State Land Use Charge (LUC) is payable annually by property
and building owners in Lagos State. It is a consolidation of ground
rent, tenement rate, and neighbourhood improvement levy. Following the
introduction of electronic payment for all forms of revenue remittance
which brings an end to the cash payment in the state, residents of Lagos
can now use the e-payment, making it easier to pay anywhere and anytime.
This development will help Lagos State boost its Internally Generated
Revenue (IGR) and block all financial leakages in ministries and
parastatals which will in turn enable the government discharge her
responsibilities.
The LUC bill, which was reviewed by the Lagos State House of Assembly
and signed into law by the Lagos State Governor on February 8, enables
the correction of inefficiencies in the old law which revealed that only
a small fraction of properties in Lagos State was remitting their Land
Use Charges.
Renowned Nigerian comedian and Lagos State resident, Mr. Gbenga
Adeyinka, who paid his Land Use Charge on Tuesday, February 27, also
advised other property owners to utilize the convenient e-payment
platform introduced by the state.
“I went to the bank today to pay my Land Use Charge as a responsible
resident of Lagos State in order to take advantage of the 15% discount
before the deadline of April 14, 2018, and I implore property owners to
do the same in order to improve living conditions in the state. This
will also help the state government to provide better amenities and
infrastructural development for property owners and residents of Lagos.
It is a civic and moral duty to support the good work of this government
for our benefit and for generations to come”.
In addition, some properties are exempted from the operation of the law
such as properties used for public, religious and charitable activities,
properties occupied and owned by pensioners of 60 years and above,
public cemeteries and burial ground and all palaces of recognized Obas
and Chiefs in the State.
Another Lagos resident, Mr. Oluwole Farinu, mentioned that paying his
Land Use Charge enables him to exercise his civic duty and in turn helps
the government provide more infrastructure like the building of roads,
hospitals and providing security. ‘The Lagos State Government has tried
to improve lives through better provision of infrastructure in the
state’, he said.
According to Engineer Olayemi Ajala who noted that Infrastructural
development is quite obvious in every corner of the state especially in
areas like Epe, Surulere, Aguda and the Alapere dual carriage road,
“Lagosians should support the Government more by paying their taxes in
order to have improved growth and development.
Payments can now be made at any branch of the 19 accredited banks in
Lagos State as well as through WebPay, Paypoint, and USSD.