The House of Representatives has denounced the arbitrary hike in rents across the country, insisting that no rent increase should exceed 20 percent of the current rate, regardless of improvements in infrastructure or other factors.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Bassey Akiba, representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency, titled “Need to Regulate Arbitrary Rent Increase and Protect Tenants from Exploitation.”
The House urged the Federal Government to invest more in affordable housing projects to expand access to low-cost housing and reduce pressure on the rental market.
In a related development, lawmakers directed the Inspector General of Police and the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure that officers manning checkpoints in plain clothes are properly identified.
They expressed concern that the lack of clear identification among such officers falls short of international best practices and undermines accountability.
Earlier, the Lagos State House of Assembly had taken a similar position against indiscriminate rent increases. In April, it urged the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to ensure full enforcement of the Lagos State Tenancy Law of 2015.
The Assembly also tasked the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, with intensifying public enlightenment campaigns to educate residents about their rights under the law.
Sa’ad Olumoh, who sponsored the Lagos motion, noted that excessive rent hikes were worsening the state’s housing crisis. He referenced Section 37 of the Tenancy Law, which prohibits unreasonable rent increases and provides legal remedies for tenants facing exploitation.
