The House of Representatives has taken a firm stand against Nigeria’s rising rent crisis, condemning arbitrary rent hikes across the country.
Lawmakers agreed that no rent increase should exceed 20 percent of the existing rate, even when landlords make improvements to their properties.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Bassey Akiba, representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency, who said the action was necessary to protect tenants from exploitation and rising living costs.
“Tenants must be shielded from excessive rent adjustments that have worsened the housing burden,” Akiba said.
In addition, the House urged the Federal Government to prioritize affordable housing projects that would improve citizens’ access to low-cost homes and reduce pressure on the rental market.
Akiba argued that the government must take practical steps to ensure housing affordability, noting that millions of Nigerians spend an unsustainable portion of their income on rent.
“We must close the gap between income levels and housing costs to give ordinary citizens a chance at decent living,” he added.
Furthermore, lawmakers agreed that unchecked rent increases are driving urban migration challenges and worsening economic inequality.
Therefore, members called for collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Housing, state governments, and private developers to expand social housing schemes nationwide.
Meanwhile, in a related decision, the House also directed the Inspector General of Police and the Controller General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure that officers at checkpoints are clearly identified.
Lawmakers emphasized that plainclothes personnel at roadblocks undermine transparency and public trust.
The House insisted that all security operatives performing duties at checkpoints wear visible identification tags for accountability.
Moreover, this nationwide motion reflects a similar effort made earlier in the year by the Lagos State House of Assembly, which called for strict enforcement of the Lagos State Tenancy Law of 2015.
The Lagos motion, sponsored by Sa’ad Olumoh, urged authorities to intensify public awareness campaigns to educate tenants on their rights under existing tenancy laws.
Olumoh warned that unchecked rent increases were aggravating Lagos’ housing deficit, adding that Section 37 of the Tenancy Law provides legal protection against arbitrary rent adjustments.
“Tenants deserve to live without the fear of unjust eviction or financial exploitation,” he said.
