* Argue it’s a burden on tenants
The Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) has faulted the six per cent stamp duty charge on tenancy and lease agreements newly introduced by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), saying it will be a burden on tenants.
The FIRS had on Wednesday directed landlords and property agents to charge six per cent stamp duty on all tenancy and lease agreements.
But speaking after an inspection of the ongoing work at the NIESV headquarters, on Friday in Abuja, the President of NIESV, Chief Emmanuel Okas Wike, said the institution’s presidential advisory committee is studying the development while its legal committee is looking at the legal and professional sides of the policy.
Wike noted that the NIESV would come up with a position paper that would be sent to the FIRS.
He added: “It is going to impact on the industry very well. As a person, I can tell you that it is a very big burden for members of the society that are not property owners, especially those who are tenants. But I think that we will allow the institution to have a position on that. I can tell you that in the next few days, we will come up with a position paper that will be sent to FIRS.”
The NIESV President expressed satisfaction that the institution has been able to roof the edifice, adding that the target was to move into the permanent headquarters before the end of his administration in 2022.
He said: “I want to thank all the members of NIESV for their support for this site and also our past presidents with the support of the council and our members. It is now for us to continue from where they stopped. It is our project; that’s why we are here to look at what the contractor has done. I am very happy and elated that we have been able to roof this building within three years.”