Yar'Adua begins review of Land Use Act
From Madu Onuorah, Abuja
PRESIDENT Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has forwarded a bill for the amendment of the Land Use Act to the National Assembly for urgent consideration and enactment.
To be cited as the Land Use Act (Amendment) Act 2009 or the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 2009, the new amendment bill is in line with pledges made by President Yar'Adua in his inaugural address to amend the Act towards promoting rapid economic development for Nigerians.
In separate letters to the Senate President, David Mark and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, Yar'Adua urged the National Assembly to pass the amendments, which are based on the report of the Presidential Committee on Land Use Reforms, in an "expeditious manner".
Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, who announced the presentation of the bill to the National Assembly, said the amendments being proposed by the Presidency relate to sections Five, Seven, 15, 21, 22, 23 and 28 of the existing Act.
The main thrust of the amendment, he said, "is to restrict the requirement for governor's consent in land transactions to assignments only. The amendments will render such consent unnecessary for mortgages, subleases and other land transfers in order to make transactions in land less cumbersome and facilitate economic growth.
"The presentation of the bill to the National Assembly marks the commencement of the implementation of the Yar'Adua Administration's strategic agenda to overcome some of the major legal and logistical constraints to capital accumulation in Nigeria.
"Its passage will make land a much more easily convertible asset that can be used with less hindrance to raise capital for ventures in other areas of the economy. It will also facilitate increased investment in agriculture and strengthen the mortgage industry."
According to Adeniyi, because the Land Use Act is embedded in the 1999 Constitution, it demands that any amendments to it must necessarily go through the same process as stipulated for amendments to the Constitution itself.
Therefore, he said, "President Yar'Adua will actively seek the support of the National Council of State and the Governors' Forum to ensure that the proposed amendments are also endorsed by the stipulated number of State Houses of Assembly."
