The House of Representatives has moved to address Nigeria’s growing housing crisis by condemning arbitrary rent hikes nationwide.
Lawmakers agreed that rent increases should not exceed 20 per cent of the existing rate, even when landlords make infrastructural upgrades or improvements.
The resolution followed a motion presented by Bassey Akiba, representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency, who emphasised the urgent need to protect tenants from exploitation and regulate excessive rent adjustments.
The House further urged the Federal Government to prioritise affordable housing projects to improve citizens’ access to low-cost homes and reduce pressure on the rental market.
In a related development, the lawmakers directed the Inspector General of Police and the Controller General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure that officers operating at checkpoints are clearly identified, stressing that plainclothes security personnel hinder transparency and accountability.
This nationwide call mirrors earlier efforts by the Lagos State House of Assembly, which in April called for the strict enforcement of the Lagos State Tenancy Law of 2015 to curb unreasonable rent increases.
The Assembly also urged intensified public awareness campaigns to educate tenants on their rights.
Lawmaker Sa’ad Olumoh, who sponsored the motion in Lagos, warned that unchecked rent increases were aggravating the state’s housing challenges.
He cited Section 37 of the Tenancy Law, which prohibits arbitrary rent adjustments and provides tenants with legal protection against exploitation.