Kogi Assembly Proposes New Tenancy Law to Protect Tenants

On Thursday, the Kogi State House of Assembly commenced the process to overhaul the state's tenancy law, holding a public hearing for a proposed bill aimed at protecting tenants from arbitrary rent increases and unlawful evictions. The bill, sponsored by Hon. Lawal Aku, a member representing the Ankpa 1 State Constituency, seeks to repeal the Rent Control Recovery of Residential Premises Law of 2007 and replace it with the new Kogi State Tenancy Law of 2027.

This new legislation is designed to reflect current economic realities and strengthen the rights and responsibilities of landlords, tenants, and property agents. The initiative comes amid growing complaints regarding rising housing rents and excessive agency charges across the state, exacerbated by prevailing economic hardships.

The bill intends to establish a fair, transparent, and balanced legal framework for tenancy relationships, addressing issues such as arbitrary rent hikes, unlawful evictions, and excessive agent fees, while providing effective dispute resolution mechanisms.