REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE
The Anambra state House of Assembly has expressed concerns over the reckless and incessant increase of rents by some landlords and their agents in the state.
To this end the house is working on a bill aimed at addressing the exorbitant charges especially within student communities.
The Majority Leader of the House, Mr Ikenna Ofodeme stated this while addressing members of the National Association of Nigerian Students joint campus Council, Anambra State chapter who staged a peaceful protest to the state House of Assembly.
The Students who carried placards of various inscriptions arrived the Legislative complex to submit a petition against Unjust iIncrease in House Rents and Unfair Agency Fees in the state.
Some of the inscriptions in placards paraded by the students read Tenants deserve affordable homes, Speak up fight rent abuse enough is enough, we demand an affordable rent for all, No more Arbitrary increase , End Excess agent Fees among other write ups.
The Spokesperson of the group, Comrade Ifeanyichukwu Chukwuemeka regretted that unjust increase in rent and unfair agency fees have become a very big worry and concern to the students as well as their parents and guardians.
He appealed to the law makers to come up with legislation that would protect the residents especially students against the increasing reap off situation introduced by some landlords and their agents.
The Majority Leader of the House, Mr Ofodeme noted that the constant increase was not just affecting the students but also paining parents and other residents across the state who are no longer finding it easier to pay the exorbitant house rents.
He noted that the 8th Assembly being fully aware of the plight of the residents , had commenced the process to enact a law aimed at ensuring that the arbitrary increase and charges are curtailed in the overall interest of the state.
Mr Ofodeme wondered how someone in the name of agent will be asking a new tenant to pay 800,000 and subsequently pay 400,000 as the annual rent, a situation the House of Assembly is taking steps to address without further delay.
Also speaking , the Chairman House Committee on Education , Mr Anayo Okpalaeke said efforts will be intensified by the law makers to ensure that the bill on agency matters will be accelerated to address the challenges highlighted by the students petition.
Radio Nigeria Correspondent Uche Ndeke reports that the students leadership chanted solidarity songs submitted their written petition to the delegation who received it on behalf of the Speaker, Mr Somtochukwu Udeze.
