A step in the right direction. An issue for advocacy to get other state legislatures to pass similar bills into law and have their governors accent to them. In particular states like Rivers, as well as the FCT, where the responsibility will be that of the NASS [one arm of it].
JG
From: Ayọ Abiọla <great.arc@gmail.com>
To: USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2011 6:16 PM
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Putting Nigeria's legislators to work: Fashola signs Tenancy bill
When Babatunde Fashola signed the Lagos new Tenancy bill into Law on
Wednesday (Yesterday), it occurred to me that the legislative arm of
government is not only about sharing money, probing the executives or
screening commissioners and ministerial nominees after all.
Members of this arm of government are elected as per constituencies
and the idea is that each member represents a cut population from the
state or country and so the legislative assembly either at the local,
state or national government is supposed to be the true voice of the
people to the government; getting the government to prioritise issues
that the people yearn for.
What we have largely seen is the legislative houses becoming a tool
for the executive; as prominent issues for discussions at their
sittings are largely bills sent from the executive such as tenure
elongation, ministerial screening rather than bills for the populace.
The legislatures owes a duty to scout their constituencies – identify
what members they represent clamour for – bring such issues to the
house and pass bills that ensures the executives do these things. This
is what separates democracy from militocracy.
So, kudos to the Lagos legislators. Tenancy has been a big Lagos
problem and a bigger Nigerian problem. Let's say, I ask to rent a
house and the landlord asks me to pay N18,000 monthly with a 3 year
down payment – that is N18,000 x 36 months which is N648,000.
Meanwhile, I am a fresh graduate who is fortunate enough to have just
started a N125,000 a month job two months earlier – plus a car the
company insists takes away N35,000 monthly from my pay over 5 years.
Of course, I will take the car as a brand new LBB (Lagos Big Boy). So,
how do I pay this rent demand? My landlord doesn't care and should I
improvise any means to pay as it seems every Lagos landlord has
conspired to demand the same thing from me? But now, thanks to this
new law, I am only obliged to pay 12 months maximum in advance and
subsequently pay every 6 months; because the law says,
"It shall be unlawful for a landlord or his agent to demand or receive
from a sitting tenant rent in excess of six (6) months (one year in
the case of a new tenant) in respect of any premises."
This is just the beginning of better things ahead as I hope rental
payment will eventually become a monthly affair, since my salary only
comes monthly. Now, time to go check some new place as my previous 3
years payment expires in 2 months.
--
Ayọ Abiọla
skype: abydayjee
*Faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life...
**Earth's great treasure lies human personality and service to
humanity is the best work of life"
--
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To: USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2011 6:16 PM
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Putting Nigeria's legislators to work: Fashola signs Tenancy bill
When Babatunde Fashola signed the Lagos new Tenancy bill into Law on
Wednesday (Yesterday), it occurred to me that the legislative arm of
government is not only about sharing money, probing the executives or
screening commissioners and ministerial nominees after all.
Members of this arm of government are elected as per constituencies
and the idea is that each member represents a cut population from the
state or country and so the legislative assembly either at the local,
state or national government is supposed to be the true voice of the
people to the government; getting the government to prioritise issues
that the people yearn for.
What we have largely seen is the legislative houses becoming a tool
for the executive; as prominent issues for discussions at their
sittings are largely bills sent from the executive such as tenure
elongation, ministerial screening rather than bills for the populace.
The legislatures owes a duty to scout their constituencies – identify
what members they represent clamour for – bring such issues to the
house and pass bills that ensures the executives do these things. This
is what separates democracy from militocracy.
So, kudos to the Lagos legislators. Tenancy has been a big Lagos
problem and a bigger Nigerian problem. Let's say, I ask to rent a
house and the landlord asks me to pay N18,000 monthly with a 3 year
down payment – that is N18,000 x 36 months which is N648,000.
Meanwhile, I am a fresh graduate who is fortunate enough to have just
started a N125,000 a month job two months earlier – plus a car the
company insists takes away N35,000 monthly from my pay over 5 years.
Of course, I will take the car as a brand new LBB (Lagos Big Boy). So,
how do I pay this rent demand? My landlord doesn't care and should I
improvise any means to pay as it seems every Lagos landlord has
conspired to demand the same thing from me? But now, thanks to this
new law, I am only obliged to pay 12 months maximum in advance and
subsequently pay every 6 months; because the law says,
"It shall be unlawful for a landlord or his agent to demand or receive
from a sitting tenant rent in excess of six (6) months (one year in
the case of a new tenant) in respect of any premises."
This is just the beginning of better things ahead as I hope rental
payment will eventually become a monthly affair, since my salary only
comes monthly. Now, time to go check some new place as my previous 3
years payment expires in 2 months.
--
Ayọ Abiọla
skype: abydayjee
*Faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life...
**Earth's great treasure lies human personality and service to
humanity is the best work of life"
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue-
unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
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