Ground rent: Experts urge transparency as FG sets up task force

Experts have called on the federal government to ensure transparency in ground rent collection across the country, as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development recently inaugurated a task force team to audit ground rent nationwide.

Ground rent has been a burning issue in the country, especially in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as the current minister, Nyesom Wike, recently revoked C/O titles of key politicians over their inability to pay ground rent on their properties.

In Nigeria, ground rent is a tax imposed by the state government on land, whether developed or undeveloped. In this case, a landowner would naturally pay the ground rent to the relevant state government authority.

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However, experts are calling for transparency to ensure that there are no leakages and due process is followed.

In his comment, Segun Maku, the CEO of Cipriani Ltd noted that “Over the last two decades, most Nigerian states, including the FCT, have established Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to streamline land administration and prevent fraudulent practices. The Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), introduced in 2003, was expected to digitise land records, minimise disputes, and enhance transparency.

“As such, there is a need for such digitisation in ground rent collection now that a task force has been set up to audit. Let’s know where and where the money has been going to because all this while, what we hear is that people are not paying, but I am certain some people have been paying. So there is a need for transparency,” he said.

Also speaking, Musa Baba, a realtor, told this newspaper that the issue of ground rent has been reawakened by the current minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, which is a good development.

“There is a need to ensure only credible people carry out the audit and the audit results should be made public, which is the only way public trust can be earned.

“I believe ground rent can bring revenue to improve infrastructure. And they should start with the big politicians that don’t like paying,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development says it is establishing task teams in every state to conduct comprehensive audits of its properties and lands while overseeing the collection of ground rent.

The permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, made this disclosure during an interactive session with the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) controllers of housing at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

He explained that the task teams would be composed of the state controllers, representatives from the state and federal housing authorities, and chaired by the Surveyor-General of the Federation.

To ensure the success of this initiative, Dr Belgore assured the controllers of the ministry’s commitment “to providing necessary resources, emphasising that a portion of the revenue generated would be allocated for fieldwork and evaluation.”

“Regular field audits and professional oversight will enhance quality and efficiency,” he stated, adding that “continuous supervision and open communication would facilitate timely updates to the headquarters.”

Dr Shuaib urged state controllers to embrace teamwork, stressing that collaboration, dedication and high-quality project execution are essential for achieving the ministry’s objectives.

“The effectiveness of the ministry largely depends on the commitment and coordination of state housing controllers,” he said, recognising their vital role in executing projects efficiently.

Dr Shuaib also underscored the importance of hands-on field experience, noting that effective project management is best learned through active on-site engagement.

Additionally, he stated plans for training and mentoring new officers, particularly as the ministry faces capacity challenges due to retiring personnel.

To address this, Dr Shuaib announced plans to recruit experienced professionals and implement training programmes, leveraging the expertise of federal controllers.

To address operational challenges, the federal controllers urged the ministry to renew contracts for facility managers overseeing state projects to prevent vandalism by miscreants.

This engagement, he noted, is part of a proactive strategy to tackle operational challenges and enhance efficiency at both federal and state levels.