Your Reduction In Land Use Charge Not Acceptable, OPS Tells Ambode
The Organized Private Sector (OPS) on Friday lauded Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode for taking some steps to reduce Land Use Charge in the state, but insisted that the reduction is still not acceptable because it fell short of their expectations.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed Olusegun Oshinowo on behalf of OPS comprising the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (NACCIMA), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), National Association of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (NASME) and National Association of Small Scale Industries (NASSI) made available to journalists in Lagos.
According to OPS, having analysed the announced concessions by government,’ our position is that the reduction fell short of expectations of the business community.
“Government has not address the fundamental request in our formal submission to it, namely reduction in both or either of the Base Percentage Rate or (and) Assessed Market Value.
“These are crucial issues we had called on Government to address. A reduction of 50 per cent over the invoiced rates is far off from the mark on the relief that will ameliorate the over 500 per cent increase in the new rate.
“In the spirit of the long-standing partnership and ongoing social-dialogue between the Lagos State Government and the Business Community, we therefore, request that you take a second look at these propositions.
“May I also inform you that we have the mandate of the business community to challenge this law in court, as we did in 2002, should the government continue to shun our request for a respectful constructive dialogue between it and the OPS, which is highly desirable for the resolution of this issue”, OPS added.
