The Senate on Tuesday passed for second reading a bill which seeks to regulate rents payment from one or two years first payment by tenants, to three months initial payment and subsequent monthly payments .
The planned legislation sponsored by Senator Smart Adeyemi ( APC Kogi West) is targeted at cushioning the effect of outrageous rents on property on poor residents in the Federal Capital Territory and it’s environs
According to him, the bill when passed into law, will regulate rent collections from tenants to three months at first instance and subsequent monthly payments as against one , two or three years first payment collected by property owners
Senator smart added that Many residents of FCT find it difficult to cope with huge rent payment , which has led to many empty buildings in the FCT and Employees residing in outskirts cities .
In a swift reaction senator chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu East ) who vehemently opposed the passage of the bill lamented that , rental payment is purely economic, and as such should be driven by market forces , cost of building materials, and income.
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Senator Nnamani advised government to invest more on housing scheme projects , mortgage schemes, housing credit facilities and not control the business of private individuals In an emerging Africa democracy
senator Bala Ibn Na’ Allah (APC Kebbi central ) citing section 17 of the constitution , while supporting the bill says rental system currently practiced in the country enncourages corruption and makes it impossible for people to survive
senator Bala citing example” if the clerk of the national assembly whose salary is less than 400,000 , is expected to pay two million at once in advance , where will he get the money?
He added that the senate should fast track the passage of the bill , to allow other states follow suit for proper alignment across the country .
(Editor Paul Akhagbemhe)
