Reps order Abuja council to resume tenement rate collection

The House of Representatives has ordered resumption of collection of tenement rates by the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The House committee on area councils and ancillary matters, chaired by Zaphaniah Jisalo (PDP, FCT) conveyed the directive in a letter to the council dated August 1, 2017.

In the letter, addressed to AMAC, Jisalo said the directive came from Speaker Yakubu Dogara and that the council should resume collection with immediate effect.

“The issue of collection of tenements rates by the area councils had already been addressed by the National Assembly, through the provisions of action 13 of the Federal Capital Territory Act, Cap 128, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“The piece of legislation by reference was made pursuant to action 229 (a) (c) and section 303 in fulfilment of the Fourth schedule to the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 wherein tenement rate is item (I).

“The tenement rate of 4 percent or N4 kobo per naira, currently being assessed and collected by the area council is within the contemplation of this established legal framework, and accordingly, the Speaker, House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has directed that this should continue to operate without let or hindrance,” Jisalo said in the letter.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had in May suspended collection of tenement rates by the area councils.

A circular by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of FCT, Babatope Ajakaiye, said the suspension became necessary in order to sanitize the system.