The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, has rejected the 50 per cent reduction of the Land Use Charge recently reviewed by the Lagos State Government.

The Chairman, Mr Adeshina Ogunlana, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday said that the reduction by the Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode led-administration is “unacceptable”.

“I am yet to hear officially from the  government about that reduction or see a document about it,  I have only seen news flash which I will treat only as a rumour.

“The rumoured reduction is not acceptable, I don’t trust this government; this is democracy and if there is going to be a reduction you have to consult with the people.

“The reduction is arbitrary and lacks legal basis. Due process must be followed, the law must be repealed and amended.

“You cannot repeal a law by proclamation, we are not in the military era where laws are made by decrees and proclamation,” he said.

On the association’s next line of action, Ogunlana said: “The NBA Ikeja branch will hold a press briefing to address this issue.”

NAN reports that the LASG had increased the Land Use Charge by 400 per cent,  motor rate taxes by 1, 600 per cent, court Fees by 2,000 per cent and bore hole taxes by 68,000 per cent.

Following the raise, the NBA Ikeja Branch had on March 13 in a solidarity with various human rights groups staged a peaceful protest from its Secretariat at Ikeja to the seat of power — the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa.

The protesters had at the State Secretariat presented a letter from the NBA to Gov. Ambode, who was represented by Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy.

The letter dated March 12 was entitled, “Call For A Re-think and Review of The Land Use Charge Tax, All Other Excessive Taxes, Levies and Charges in Lagos State”.

In reaction to the protest of the lawyers and activists, the Lagos State Government on Thursday announced a 50 percent reduction of the Land Use Charge.

The reduction was part of the conclusions reached at the weekly meeting of the State Executive Council chaired by Ambode.

Meanwhile, he Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday described Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode as a populist and welfarist governor, following his administration’s downward review of the controversial Land Use Charge.

Mr Tunde Braimoh, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Publicity, Strategy and Security told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that people’s will remains the ultimate in democracy.

Lagos State Government on Thursday buckled under pressure, announcing a downward review of its new Land Use Charge (LUC) that had been widely criticised.

Several groups, including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Nigeria Bar Association, Ikeja Branch had kicked against the hike in the charge, approximated at 400 per cent.