The Lagos State Government on Monday said it would not hesitate to seal the properties of residents who default in paying their Land Use Charge (LUC), just as it warned that it may explore the option of prosecuting defaulters according to the Law.
Addressing journalists at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa Secretariat, Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi, disclosed that the State Government has put in place a variety of payment options which included paying at the bank or the nearest Land Use Charge office to residents using cash or POS or payment online through credit or debit cards.
Akinkunmi, who apologised for the delay in the distribution of the bills this year, attributed it to the need to clean up the data sets which were previously in operation, adding that a more robust clearer data sets were now in place.
He however said despite the delay in the delivery of the bills, tax payers are still entitled to the usual 15 percent discounted rate if payment is made within 15 days of bill delivery, while others who pay outside the 15 days grace not exceeding 30 calendar days would pay the actual due amount.
He said that failure to do that would attract penalty from the 45th day after bill delivery and rise further afterwards, and that properties in such category would be sealed, while owners would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“Payment of Land Use Charge is a requirement of law and property tax. Defaulters will have their properties sealed and are liable to be prosecuted in court,” Akinkunmi said.
The commissioner, also clarified the debate on who should be liable to pay Land Use Charge, stating that by law, the onus falls on land owners/landlords and not the tenants.
“It is the landlords that are expected to pay the charge. They can have agreements with their tenants, but from the government’s perspective, it is the landlord that the law recognises in paying the charge,” he said.
Akinkunmi counselled residents to desist from patronising touts or any official in a bid to cut corners on the payment, just as he urged people to imbibe the culture of wilful payment of taxes.
He also warned against harassment of government officials by residents in the course of carrying out their lawful duties.
“The full wrath of the law will be invoked on any resident who assaults a Lagos State official in this regard.
“If a resident suspects that a person is impersonating a Lagos State official, please report them to the Office of Finance, Ministry of Finance in Alausa or to the police,” he concluded.
