The Federal Government has initiated moves to stop landlords from collecting rents in advance.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Michael Aondoakaa, who disclosed the development, also charged state commissioners of justice to initiate legislation that would prohibit the practice. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Aondoakaa gave the charge at the second meeting of the Body of Attorneys-General of the Country on Thursday in Makurdi, Benue State.
He noted that most Nigerians, even in the formal sector, did not earn income in advance. He said, �Most Nigerians earn their incomes based on monthly instalments and have been forced for too long to endure the hardship of paying rents to shylock landlords. People do not pay two years� rent in advance in America and Britain. I am not sure whether they pay rent in yearly instalments in Ghana, Kenya or South Africa. The practice, therefore, places an unnecessary burden on tenants, which as a government, we must reject as unacceptable.�
The minister pointed out that the meeting would focus on legislation that would provide positive and lasting impact on the lives of Nigerians. He also urged them to fine-tune the modalities for the rule of law summit and stakeholders� meeting aimed at seeking transformation of Justice in Nigeria. The minister also urged the attorneys-general to address the lingering problems of production and issuance of vehicle registration licence between states and the Federal Road Safety Commission.
The Minister of National Planning, Alhaji Sanusi Daggash, challenged the AGs to liberalise the Land Use Act in a manner that it would favour all. He also urged them to reduce the cost of litigation, to assist the less privileged. The state Governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, said the liberalisation of the Land Use Act would tremendously reduce the several land disputes in the state. He said, �The government is striving hard to ensure the security of lives and property of the citizenry and this is of utmost importance in Benue which was prone to land-related crises.�