NLC seeks enforcement of property tax

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Federal Government to impose property tax on the unoccupied Abuja houses built with monies allegedly stolen by public officers.

The President of the congress, Dr Ayuba Wabba, made the call while fielding questions during the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja on Thursday.

Wabba said that the NLC would continue to advocate the enforcement of property tax especially in Abuja because most of the buildings "are beyond the reach of the common man".

"NLC has called on government to institutionalise the payment of property tax, especially here in Abuja because people have looted our funds and bought property they are not using.

"And we have said instead of this issue of increasing VAT which is going to further suppress the people that are already at the bottom of the ladder, we thought that the best thing for now, Abuja as a starting point, is to impose property tax, especially in those very big mansions."

According to Wabba, efforts to introduce property tax is being frustrated by the ruling elite, who have used stolen public funds to buy plots of land and build houses, which they leave unoccupied.

He advised that the property tax should be charged according to the size and location of such houses.

"Government should charge what you pay as ground rent according to the number of bedrooms you have in your house.

"But because this is an avenue where the bourgeoisie who are also the culprits have deliberately refused to push for laws to make property tax compulsory.

"It (property tax) is done everywhere in the world. So, it is part of what we are advancing to Mr President, ’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the labour chief has assured subscribers to the failed NLC Housing Scheme that they would get their money back as soon as verification was completed.

"The process of verifying all the subscribers is going on in our office. The N2.7 billion, which is the funds generated by workers is in the custody of the court.

"Therefore, once the process of verification is completed, every worker is going to be paid."

NAN recalls that the failed housing scheme has been mired in controversy following attempt by the developer to defraud the subscribers.