Kogi Assembly Moves To Regulate House Rent

Kogi State House of Assembly has commenced moves to reform the state’s tenancy laws with a public hearing on a bill aimed at protecting tenants from arbitrary rent increases, unlawful evictions and excessive charges by landlords and property agents.

The proposed legislation seeks to repeal the Rent Control and Recovery of Residential Premises Law, 2007 and replace it with the Kogi State Tenancy Law, 2027, a framework intended to reflect current economic realities while strengthening the rights and responsibilities of landlords, tenants and property agents.

Sponsored by the member representing Ankpa I State Constituency, Hon. Lawal Akus, the bill comes against the backdrop of rising house rents and mounting complaints over exploitative agency fees across the state amid prevailing economic hardship.

Speaking during the public hearing, Akus said the proposed law was designed to establish a fair, transparent and balanced legal framework for tenancy administration in Kogi State.

According to him, the legislation seeks to tackle arbitrary rent increases, unlawful evictions, excessive charges by property agents, prolonged tenancy disputes, abuse by both landlords and tenants, as well as delays in the administration of justice.

“This public hearing represents our modest but significant effort at promoting participatory democracy by ensuring that stakeholders and members of the public contribute meaningfully to the law-making process,” he said.

The lawmaker stressed that while landlords are entitled to legitimate returns on their investments, tenants also deserve protection from exploitation.

He noted that rapid urbanisation and increasing demand for housing had made comprehensive tenancy reforms necessary.

Akus explained that the bill would clearly define the rights and obligations of landlords, tenants and property agents, regulate tenancy agreements, provide lawful procedures for recovery of premises, prohibit illegal evictions and harassment, establish effective dispute resolution mechanisms, promote transparency in tenancy transactions and foster peaceful coexistence.

He assured stakeholders that all memoranda presented at the hearing would receive careful legislative consideration before the bill proceeds to the next stage.

“Legislation is most effective when it is participatory, inclusive and responsive to the needs of the people it is intended to serve. Every contribution made here today will enrich the final law,” he added.

Presenting a memorandum, Jibril Onoru-Oiza Abu described the bill as timely, saying the prevailing economic realities demand a modern tenancy law that balances the interests of both landlords and tenants.

He argued that rent reviews should be tied to improvements in housing conditions rather than public infrastructure projects alone.

“Property ownership is not charity, but rights of ownership are not rights of excess. A landlord who has not maintained minimum housing standards should not lawfully impose major rent increases,” he said.

Abu further recommended limiting advance rent payments to one year, licensing and regulating property agents, capping agency and legal fees at 10 per cent of annual rent, prohibiting rental bidding, criminalising unlawful self-help evictions, making written tenancy agreements compulsory for leases exceeding six months, introducing mandatory tenant identity verification for security purposes and establishing a specialised Tenancy Tribunal for speedy dispute resolution.

“Housing must not become an auction house where the highest bidder automatically secures accommodation. Shelter is a necessity, not a luxury,” he said, adding that the proposed legislation would promote fairness, security and investor confidence if properly enacted.

The Acting Assistant Director of Legal Drafting in the Kogi State Ministry of Justice, Olowolaiyemo Ehitayo, proposed several amendments to strengthen the bill.

She recommended expanding the definition of accommodation to expressly include residential premises, reviewing the functions of the proposed Rent Control Board and transferring its chairmanship from the Directorate of Civil Litigation to the Directorate of Citizens’ Rights.

According to her, additional technical observations had already been submitted to the House Committee through the ministry’s memorandum.

The Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Taiye Abanika, described the proposed legislation as a timely response to the alarming rise in house rents across the state.

He said the bill aligns with the administration’s efforts to cushion the effects of arbitrary rent increases on residents.

However, the commissioner faulted the composition of the proposed Rent Control and Tenancy Board, arguing that the Ministry of Housing was unjustifiably excluded despite its statutory responsibility for housing policy.

“A Rent Control Board with no representation from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, while allocating four of nine seats to the Ministry of Justice, is simply unacceptable,” he said.

Abanika maintained that tenancy regulation is primarily a housing matter requiring expertise in housing economics, urban development and building standards.

He also argued that the constitutional power to appoint members of the board should rest with the Governor rather than the Attorney-General.

The Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN), Kogi State Chapter, also raised constitutional concerns over some provisions of the bill.

Speaking on behalf of the association, Chief Magistrate II Ibrahim Denja Eleson warned against empowering the proposed Rent Control Task Force to seal properties without obtaining court orders.

“No citizen should have his property sealed without being heard by a court of competent jurisdiction. Such provisions risk being declared unconstitutional,” he said.

Eleson also opposed making recourse to the proposed board a mandatory condition before litigants can approach the courts, insisting that such a provision would infringe on citizens’ constitutional right of access to justice.

The chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Kogi State Branch, John Eniwaiye, urged lawmakers to ensure that the legislation strikes a balance between protecting tenants and safeguarding legitimate investments by property owners.

He said the Assembly has a rare opportunity to enact a tenancy law that reflects present-day realities while promoting fairness, transparency and stability in Kogi State’s housing sector.

At the close of the public hearing, stakeholders generally agreed that although the bill requires further refinement, its eventual passage would significantly improve landlord-tenant relations, reduce housing disputes and establish a more equitable tenancy system in Kogi State.

The House Committee assured participants that all memoranda and recommendations received during the hearing would be carefully reviewed before the bill advances to the next stage of legislative consideration.