The Abia State House of Assembly has passed a bill establishing the Abia State Property and Tenancy Regulatory Authority, a move aimed at regulating tenancy matters and addressing rising concerns over excessive house rents across the state.
The bill, H.A.B. 34, sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Augustine Okezie, alongside lawmaker Mandela Obasi, was passed during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Emmanuel Emeruwa.
The new law is designed to protect tenants from exploitative practices by landlords and house agents, while also safeguarding the rights of landlords in cases where tenants violate tenancy agreements or engage in unlawful conduct.
The legislation comes in response to growing complaints from residents of Umuahia and Aba over the rising cost of residential and commercial rents. Many tenants had accused some house agents of colluding with landlords to arbitrarily increase rental charges.
In a related development, the Assembly also passed a law aimed at strengthening the administration of criminal justice in the state. Lawmakers said the legislation is intended to promote the speedy dispensation of criminal cases while guaranteeing fair hearing for all parties involved.
The House further approved a restorative justice law that requires offenders who inflict harm on victims within Abia State to take responsibility for their actions, as part of efforts to enhance accountability and justice in the state.
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