Ebonyi Assembly Passes Law Capping House Agency Fees at 2%, Regulating Scrap Dealers
ISSN: 2354-4481
By Udeh Ifeanyi Bliss
The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has passed a new law regulating the activities of scrap dealers, house agents and the collection of agency fees in the state.
The legislation, known as Law No. 003 of 2026, was passed during a special plenary session of the House on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at the Legislative Complex on Nkaliki Road, Abakaliki.
The sitting was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Chief Moses Ije Odunwa.
The law seeks to regulate the sale, purchase, possession, transportation and disposal of metal and electrical scraps, while also providing guidelines for house rents and fees charged by professional and non-professional agents involved in property transactions.
Leading the debate on the Bill, the Leader of the House, Chief Kingsley Ikoro, said the legislation was necessary in view of the increasing activities of scrap dealers and the difficulties residents face in securing accommodation as a result of high charges by house agents.
Ikoro expressed concern over the persistent vandalisation of electricity transformers, particularly in rural communities, linking a significant part of the problem to the activities of scrap dealers.
He said effective enforcement and oversight would be critical to ensuring that the objectives of the legislation were achieved.
On house rents and agency fees, the House Leader also raised concerns over the rising cost of accommodation in Ebonyi State, noting that excessive charges by middlemen and agents had further increased the financial burden on residents.
He stressed that the passage of the law alone would not resolve the problem, urging relevant committees and enforcement agencies to ensure strict compliance with its provisions.
Contributing to the debate, the member representing Ezza South State Constituency, Hon. Friday Ogbuewu, described the activities of scrap dealers involved in the destruction of public infrastructure as damaging to the image and development of the state.
Ogbuewu said several electricity transformers in rural communities had been vandalised, thereby undermining government efforts to expand and sustain electricity infrastructure.
He warned that continued unregulated activities by scrap dealers could result in further damage to public infrastructure and expressed confidence that the new legislation would provide a framework for regulating the sector.
The member representing Onicha East State Constituency, Hon. Celestine Ifeanyi Ogba, also condemned the destruction of public infrastructure, describing perpetrators as both material and economic vandals.
Ogba expressed concern about the vulnerability of government project sites and warned that unchecked vandalism could spread to other public facilities.
He called for stronger collaboration between the relevant authorities and security agencies to enforce the new law.
On house rents and agency fees, Ogba supported the passage of the legislation and proposed the establishment of an official online platform through which residents could obtain information about available accommodation.
Other lawmakers, including the member representing Abakaliki North State Constituency, Hon. Nwoke Victor; member representing Ebonyi North-West State Constituency, Hon. Aloysius Nwodo; and member representing Afikpo East State Constituency, Hon. Oluchukwu Ukie Ezeali, also supported the legislation and called for its speedy passage.
The House subsequently dissolved into a Committee of the Whole to consider the Bill clause by clause.
The motion to dissolve into the Committee of the Whole was moved by the Leader of the House, Chief Kingsley Ikoro, and seconded by the member representing Ezza North-West State Constituency, Hon. Chikaodiri Nomeh.
During the clause-by-clause consideration, Speaker Odunwa outlined key provisions of the proposed law.
He stated that no person would be permitted to buy, sell, possess for sale, transport or dispose of metal or electrical scraps except as a licensed dealer with a written permit from the appropriate government agency or in accordance with regulations made under the law.
According to the Speaker, anyone who contravenes the provision would commit an offence and, upon conviction, could face imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine of up to N500,000.
The legislation also provides regulations for house agents operating in Ebonyi State.
Speaker Odunwa said excessive charges for house agency services were prohibited under the new law and that every house agent operating in the state would be required to register with the State Government, maintain a clear identity and operate from a functional office within the state.
He further stated that professional and non-professional agents involved in land transactions, whether movable or immovable, would not be permitted to charge or collect more than two per cent of the gross value of the transaction.
The Speaker added that any person who charges more than the stipulated two per cent in respect of the sale of land or any accommodation covered by the law would be committing an offence.
Upon conviction, such a person would be liable to two years' imprisonment and/or an option of a fine equivalent to twice the amount collected.
After completing consideration of the Bill, the House reconvened in plenary, where the Speaker reported the progress made by the Committee of the Whole.
Speaker Odunwa subsequently announced that the legislation would be cited as Law No. 003 of 2026 and would take effect from August 11, 2026.
He directed the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Edene Uche Blessing, to formally communicate the passage of the law to the Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
Meanwhile, the House screened and confirmed the Coordinator and members of the Management Committee of the Amasiri Development Centre in Afikpo Local Government Area.
Those confirmed include Mr. Anya Baron Ogbonna as Coordinator, alongside Mr. Nwachi Vincent, Mrs. Ihunannya Habiba Dauda, Mr. Eze Chinwoudo Onyechukwu, Mr. Mna Uro, Mr. Okochi Chukwu Enya, Mr. Eberechukwu Otu, Mr. Enya Chukwu Enya and Mr. Eze Ogbonna as members of the Management Committee.
The House also considered and adopted the report of the Auditor-General on the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Government of Ebonyi State for the financial year ended December 31, 2025.
The sitting was subsequently adjourned to another legislative day following a motion moved by the Leader of the House, Chief Kingsley Ikoro, and seconded by the Deputy Leader of the House, Chief Joseph Ununu.
The proceedings formed part of the Assembly's legislative activities aimed at addressing issues relating to public infrastructure protection, property transactions, accommodation costs, institutional oversight and public financial accountability in Ebonyi State.
By Udeh Ifeanyi Bliss
