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| Babatunde Raji Fashola |
Nigeria’s Minister for Works,
Housing and Power, Babatunde Raji Fashola has called for a review in the current
two years house rent payment by Nigerians whenever they are seeking for an
apartment. He stated this while speaking at a press conference in Abuja
recently;
“The way we collect
rent is something that must change. If we are collecting two years rent in
advance from a salary that is going to be earned in arrears monthly, there’s an
accounting mismatch.
“This is something many of us have experienced; you pay two years rent in advance money you haven’t earned. Something is distorted somewhere in our accounting model. We must all resolve, property owners alike, that maybe if we changed the way we collected rent alone many houses that are unoccupied, will be occupied.”
“This is something many of us have experienced; you pay two years rent in advance money you haven’t earned. Something is distorted somewhere in our accounting model. We must all resolve, property owners alike, that maybe if we changed the way we collected rent alone many houses that are unoccupied, will be occupied.”
Fashola also related
the situation to the housing deficit in the country: “I am inclined to think
that if we just change the payment system for housing we will accommodate a
significant number of people”.
The minister went on to emphasize the need to allow the rent payment system match the salary payment system. He said: “If salaries are paid in arrears, rent should be paid in arears.” He added that a more rigorous enforcement system for eviction would then be worked out for anyone in default.”
Since assumption of office as Minister for Works, Housing and Power, part of Fashola’s agenda has been to address housing deficits, provide good roads and increase power generation in Nigeria with extra 2, 000 megawatts.
The minister went on to emphasize the need to allow the rent payment system match the salary payment system. He said: “If salaries are paid in arrears, rent should be paid in arears.” He added that a more rigorous enforcement system for eviction would then be worked out for anyone in default.”
Since assumption of office as Minister for Works, Housing and Power, part of Fashola’s agenda has been to address housing deficits, provide good roads and increase power generation in Nigeria with extra 2, 000 megawatts.
