Lagos threatens to shut properties over Land Use Charge
The Lagos State Government on Monday said it will shut down properties that defaults in the payment of Land Use Charge, LUC, and prosecute the owners of such properties.
The Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi who stated this at a press briefing in Lagos said the Land Use Charge was established by Law No 11 in 2001 in order to have a harmonious collection of property tax in the state.
He said property owners were expected to pay the charge annually,but lamented that property owners have not been complying in the payment of thir charges.
The commissioner disclosed that the stat government realised N7.1 billion in 2014 and N6.0 billion in 2015 as LUC, adding that government officials had started distributing the bills to property owners.
“Payment are expected to be made within 30 days from the date of bill delivery. Failure to do this means penalties begin to accrue from the 45th day after bill deliver and rise further afterwards. It is therefore in citizens interest to pay as soon as bills are delivered.
“Payment of Land Use Charge is a requirement of law and property tax defaulters will have their properties sealed and are liable to be prosecuted in court,” he said.
Akinkunmi warned against abuse or harassment of government official by the residents in the course of carrying out their duties, saying that the full wrath of the law will be invoked on any resident who assaulted a Lagos State official in this regard.
“If a resident suspect that a person is impersonating a Lagos State official, please report them to the office Finance, Ministry of Finance or to the police,” he said, urging residents who had newly acquired properties to upgrade their records at the local Land Use Charge offices in the state.
