In defiance of the arrest threat by the Lagos State
Police Command, members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch, and
civil society groups, protested against the Land Use Charge Law of Lagos State,
2018.
The protesters, led by the NBA Chairman, Mr.
Adesina Ogunlana, stormed Yaba, Ojuelegba and Agege areas of the state to kick
against the charge which they described as “satanic.”
The members vowed to sustain the protest until the
government reversed the law.
The association had promised on Wednesday to stage
the protest to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari, who is on a two-day visit to
the state.
Reacting to the move, the state police command had
asked the NBA to shelve the protest, saying it was an attempt to disrupt the
security put in place for the President’s visit.
The police threatened to arrest and prosecute the
lawyers if they went ahead with the protest.
But the members came out in their numbers on
Thursday to stage the protest as planned.
Amid solidarity songs, they rallied around Agege,
Ojuelegba, as well as Tejuosho Market and bus parks, in Yaba, distributing
flyers to traders, drivers, passersby and policemen.
The flyers read, ‘NBA Ikeja branch says no to
oppresive taxes; Lagosians reject Land Use Charge 2018 in totality,’ ‘Gov.
Ambode, don’t kill Lagosians with excessive taxes,’ ‘This is democracy not
military government; resist oppression.’
Addressing members of the public during the
protest, Ogunlana said the Land Use Charge was made without recourse to the
plight of the masses.
He urged residents of the state to reject the
charge and insist on its reversal.
He said, “Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch,
supported by civil society organisations, is here to tell you that the Land Use
Charge of Governor Ambode is a wicked, irresponsible, oppressive and toxic tax.
It is unconstitutional, arbitrary and undemocratic. It is a stern contempt
which the Ambode administration owes Lagos people. They think they can do
anything and get away with it.
“We are opposing it and encouraging the people to
do so. We are sure that that law will not apply in Lagos State. The people in
government have forgotten that we voted for them. They promised that life would
be better for us. They said accommodation and food would be cheaper for us.
“Now they have come with satanic taxes. They said
they want a smart city; do they want to take our lives? Lagosians must reject
these taxes. Reject Land Use Charge; it will cause inflation and problem in the
society.”
The President, Committee for the Defence of Human
Rights, Malachy Ugwummadu, said the Land Use Charge Law 2018 was passed with
disregard for quality contributions from the public.
He said the NBA and other rights groups would
resist any attempt to stifle criticisms of the law until the charge was
reversed.
He said, “Our position has not changed and it is
well founded. The whole tax regime was conceived in treachery, nurtured in
mischief and delivered in perfidy. The only way to engage such indiscretion is
to continually sentise the people to demand a reversal of the law.
“The whole trajectory shows lack of sincerity. The
NBA that is championing this course, together with other civil society groups
including CDHR, is saying that if the government wants quality inputs into the
law, the people must be active participants.
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