Civil Society Group Seeks Repeal Of Lagos Land Use Charge Law
A civil rights organization operating under the platform of the Save Lagos Group has urged members of the Lagos State House of Assembly to immediately commence the process that would see to the repeal of the Lagos Land Use Charge Law and two other critical laws that have impacted negatively on the lives of the people of the state.
The Save Lagos Group In a statement issued by the Convener of the group, Comrade Adeniyi A. Sulaiman on Saturday at the end of an emergency meeting of the executive committee of the group in its Ikeja office, stated that the disposition of the security agencies, particularly the police in recent times have tend to suggest that they are out to curtail the rights of the people of that state to ventilate their grievances against the state government’s policies.
They cautioned security operatives in Lagos State to show caution in the exercise of their duties to residents of the state, saying the security agents must not be seen to be infringing on the rights of the people.
Sulaiman in the statement singled out the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Edgal Imohimi, saying the decision of the police to abort a planned protest by some people of the state over the newly enacted land use charge law as leaving as a bad development.
“How do you justify a situation whereby a police commissioner drafted to a state will fragrantly seek to curtail the rights of the people to lawfully organize themselves to protest against a law that was enacted by the state House of Assembly, which they consider as inimical to their well-being?” Sulaiman asked.
He added that the right of the people to peaceful protest against policies and programmes of a government is clearly spelt out in the 1999 Constitution, specifically in Section (40 &41) (as amended).
“I remember a case that was won by late legal luminary, Chief Gani Fawehinmi at the Supreme Court who stated emphatically that it is not condition precedent for a permit to be obtained by protesters before embarking on peaceful protest against government’s policies and programmes that they consider against their wellbeing.”
“This is even more apt today as we tend to have a tyrannical government headed by Mr. Akinwunmi ‘Dapo Ambode who seems not to be in anyway interested in the collective welfare and wellbeing of the people that he is presiding over, rather is more occupied with raising money to subsidise the lifestyles of those in government.” He stated.
Sulaiman warned the heads of the security agencies, particularly, the police and the DSS not to lend themselves as tools in the hands of greedy politicians but rather be agents of the people whose taxes are being utilised for kitting them and for the payment of their salaries and emolument.
He stated that for peace to reign, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly should as a matter of urgency repeal the Land Use Act 2018, Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017 as well as strict administrative condition for securing bail for those charged in the state government funded courts.
