Guardian

THE Secretary of Edo State Unity Club in Lagos, Mr Osagie Idemudia, has regretted the non-public hearing of the Land Use Charge Bill before Governor Adam Oshiomhole of Edo State passed it into law.

Speaking on behalf of the club he said that the “Land Use Charge Bill” which was introduced on the floor of the House by Honourable Phillip Shuaibu who is the Majority Leader of the House had a very rough ride through the House with some members vehemently opposing it on behalf of their constituencies.

“In essence the bill seeks to impose taxes on landed properties in Edo State. Upon its first and second reading at Plenary, the bill elicited spontaneous reactions from the general public in Edo State most of whom denounced it in unequivocal term. The opposition to the bill was so loud and strong that the Speaker of the House Hon. Uyi Igbe attempted to calm frayed nerves by pledging loudly to the people of Edo State that public hearing would be conducted by the House before it is passed into law but that was not done,”he said.

He regretted that rather than further enlightening the public on the bill by holding the promised public hearing, “parliament went to sleep and to the chagrin of the people of Edo State, woke up one morning to hear that the bill went through the third reading and final passage, thus dealing a fatal blow both to democracy. We want the governor to repeal the bill,” he said.