By Chibuike Nkwede
The Ebonyi State Government has taken a major step to regulate house rents, agency charges and the scrap metal business, approving two executive bills aimed at protecting residents from exploitation and curbing the vandalism of public infrastructure.
The State Executive Council (EXCO), chaired by Governor Francis Nwifuru, approved the transmission of the proposed legislations to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly for consideration and possible passage into law.
Briefing journalists in Abakaliki after the Council meeting, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Ikeuwa Omebeh, said the bills were designed to address growing concerns over excessive housing costs, arbitrary agency fees, and the increasing theft of public infrastructure through the illegal scrap metal trade.
To ease the burden on tenants, EXCO approved an Executive Bill to regulate the relationship between landlords and tenants, as well as the activities of professional and non-professional house agents.
A key provision of the proposed law caps agency fees at a maximum of two per cent of the total rental value, a move the government said would curb arbitrary charges and protect residents from financial exploitation, particularly in Abakaliki, where accommodation costs have continued to rise.
Omebeh explained that the legislation is also intended to strengthen compliance among registered agents and promote fairness and transparency in the state’s housing sector.
The Council also approved a separate Executive Bill seeking to regulate the acquisition, sale, possession, transportation and disposal of metal and electrical scrap across Ebonyi State.
According to the government, the proposed law is aimed at tackling the vandalism of public assets, reducing environmental degradation and enhancing public safety by placing stricter controls on the scrap metal business.
Both executive bills have now been forwarded to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly for legislative scrutiny, debate and possible enactment into law.