Gabriel Enenche —
With controversies trailing the proposed monthly house rent agitations, sponsor of the bill, Senator Smart Adeyemi has said that the the bill is basically to checkmate the high rate of rents of rooms, apartment and shops in Abuja.
He made this known while speaking with the Nigerian Vanguard on the the benefits of the bill.
Adeyemi, representing Kogi West Senatorial Zone also added that some landlords took it as an advantage because of the continuous increase in population size of the city and high level of insecurity in neighbouring states.
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“The bill is basically to checkmate the high rate of rents of rooms, apartment and shops in Abuja, he said.
“We came to realise the fact that one of the problems confronting residents is the problem of accommodation. And I think quite a number of landlords took it as an advantage because of the ever increasing population of Abuja, because of the high level of insecurity in neighbouring states, many people now troop into the city.
“To get a fairly good two bedroom within Abuja city centre, we’re talking a lot of money and the landlord will ask you to pay for two years minimum.
“Sometimes, they asked for three years. Now, there are a large army of unemployed youths who are highly intelligent, highly visionary and they need a place to put their head in order for them to survive, in order for them to be able to articulate their vision within the framework of the law.
“They want to be law abiding but they want accommodation. They want to live well. Now, if you ask such guys, such category of Nigerians to go and look for two years rent, how do they get it?
“In developed nations of the world, people pay monthly bills. I wouldn’t know how we got to this level that landlord will now demand for one year, two years, three years rent. Some landlords go to the extent of even asking for five years. Now to me, we have a duty as lawmakers and our duty is very simple. Our duty as lawmakers is to make laws for effective governance of the nation in such a manner that every Nigerian will have a sense of belonging and where his rights will be protected, and he’ll be responsible citizens and patriotic to his nation”, the lawmaker added.
Adeyemi further said that the bill centers on the FCT but, could be “domesticated at the state level.
“This bill is focusing on FCT. It could be domesticated in the States but the bill is for the federal capital territory, he continued.
“Now, if you as a landlord insists that your tenant should pay more than three months, you are going against the law and the provision of the Act and the penalty is there. The penalty is still subject to what we’re going to discuss at the public hearing.
“So, we are making laws for FCT as it affects accommodation and the basic things. If the State Houses of Assembly feel they could do it, why not? What we are fighting against is applicable to their States”, he enumerated.
