Enugu State Government has constituted a standing committee for property, land reconciliation and compensation with the mandate to review all title documents, construction approvals, double and wrongful allocations, and double certificates of occupancy, as well as evaluate compensations in respect of the government’s acquired lands, among other functions.
Residents of the state have welcomed the development, describing it as timely and commendable, insisting that the governor has begun to restore hope, justice, and confidence in government.
Inaugurating the committee, at the weekend in Enugu, Governor Peter Mbah charged members to be resolute, fair, transparent and bring to bear their experiences and integrity, which were the conditions for their selection.
The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), who will also serve as Chairman of the committee, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said the terms of reference of the committee should be implemented to the letter, adding that the procedures adopted must pass the tests of integrity, accountability, traceability, transparency, and fairness to all parties regardless of status.
The committee, known as the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Property/Land Reconciliation and Compensation in Enugu State, is saddled with the responsibilities of verifying all title documents relating to lands and property in any designated area assigned for construction; verifying all construction approvals and stages of construction; reconciling all issues of double allocations, wrongful allocation, double certificates of occupancy; evaluation and payment of compensations in respect of any acquisition; resolving issues of acquisition and recommending amount of compensation to be paid and verifying allocations and payment made as a result of allocations.
According to the governor, the committee’s assignment commences immediately with the Office of the SSG as the secretariat for all correspondence, complaints and inquiries.
