The Lagos State Government has emphasized the importance of timely payment of the Land Use Charge (LUC) to enable the state to address infrastructure challenges and improve services for residents.
Speaking during the Parkview Residents’ Association General Meeting in Ikoyi on Sunday evening, Lagos Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Abayomi Oluyomi, called on property owners to voluntarily comply with LUC payments to support the state’s development initiatives.
Oluyomi stressed that Parkview Estate, a high-end community, is home to many elites who should fulfill their civic duty by paying the Land Use Charge. He further revealed that the government is offering a 15 percent discount as an incentive to encourage compliance.
“So, I am just here to appeal to you. The compliance rate is too low, especially among the elites. We shouldn’t see such low compliance in a community like this,” Oluyomi remarked.
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The commissioner also explained the legal consequences of failing to pay the LUC while outlining exemptions for certain groups, including senior citizens.
To improve compliance, Oluyomi disclosed that the government has adopted a new strategy of engaging directly with residents’ associations in key areas. Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), he revealed that his ministry had visited eight estates so far and aims to cover the 200 estates in the area by the end of 2024.
“We have decided to visit estates individually, rather than reaching out to everyone at once. This way, we can engage more effectively,” Oluyomi said.
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The state government launched a sensitization campaign for the Land Use Charge on June 24, 2024, engaging 500 ad-hoc staff to create awareness, starting in Lagos Island, Victoria Island, and Eti-Osa Local Government Areas.
Oluyomi also mentioned that after appealing to property owners, the ministry will take further steps if non-compliance continues, including publishing the names of those who refuse to pay.
Additionally, the state government is collaborating with the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria to host a Land Use Charge workshop for key stakeholders, including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and the financial and banking sectors, to increase awareness.
The commissioner concluded that while the government prioritizes voluntary compliance, legal action may be taken as a last resort if residents continue to ignore their obligations.