NAN-H-144
AMAC
By Bukola Adwumi
Abuja, March 2, 2017 (NAN) The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) said it was prepared to reintroduce the hitherto banned Park and Pay policy in the municipal area council.
Mr Daniel Michael, Speaker, AMAC Legislative Council, said this at the public hearing on AMAC On-street Parking Bye Law on Thursday in Abuja.
Michael said that the shortfall in federal allocation to the council forced it to source for means of revenue generation.
He said that though it was not the intention of the council to overload the residents with taxation and levies, especially at this recession period, but the move became necessary in order to raise revenue.
According to him, the recession being faced by the council has made it unavoidable for the council to look inward and create more revenue generation base.
The park and pay policy was introduced by the FCT Administration in 2012 which was licensed to four companies.
The public outcry that attended the introduction led a lawyer to file a suit against the introduction and its outright ban.
Justice Peter Affen of the High Court, Apo, Abuja had ruled that the park and pay policy was illegal, adding that there was no law either by the National Assembly or AMAC supporting the policy.
Michael however said that the fourth schedule of the 1999 Constitution as amended allowed the legislative council to enact a bye law that would increase its additional revenue base.
Michael said that the administration policy was hinged on carrying the people along in all decision making made the council to conduct public hearing for a bill to make law for the park and pay.
Mr Douglas Itiat, the Head, Talent Development, Information Management Strategy and Sustainability, an AMAC Marshal said that if the law was passed it would be operated by AMAC marshals.
He said that this would enable the marshals to effectively carry out the park and pay responsibility, while calling on the legislature to pass the law.
The new charges for the proposed park and pay for regular parking charges are 30 minutes N50, one hour, N100, two hours N150, three hours N200, four hour N250, five hours N300 among others.
The violations and fines are parking without payment, clamping and payment N5, 000, parking beyond time, clamping and payment of N5, 000, failure to abide by rule one and two above, towing of vehicle to an authorised auto pound.
The fine and towing fee will be N15, 000, while demurrage for two per days will be N2, 000. (NAN)
BOL/GY
======
Edited by Grace Yussuf