FG COMMISSIONS 118 HOUSING UNITS FOR CIVIL SERVANTS

FG COMMISSIONS 118 HOUSING UNITS FOR CIVIL SERVANTS

In fulfillment of its pledge to give priority to the Welfare of workers, the Federal Government on Tuesday (6 July 2021) commissioned 118 housing units for civil servants under the Federal   Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) scheme in Nasarawa State.

Speaking at the event, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan disclosed that the present administration placed high premium on the welfare of workers and is committed to exploring all avenues to improve their living condition.

According to her, the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) programme was launched in 2015 to address the housing challenges facing civil servants.  To achieve this, she said her Office has deployed a number of initiatives to ensure the success of the programme.

This, she explained includes securing the buy-in of some Chief Executives of some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The Office she added, is also discussing with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for Special Intervention Fund for the Federal Government Housing Loans Board (FGHLB) while the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has allocated five (5) hectares of land for the FISH programme in Gwagwalada.

Assuring civil servants of the Office’s renewed strength in ensuring that more estates will be commissioned under the FISH programme, Dr. Yemi-Esan enjoined the FGHLB to ensure that newly employed civil servants are offered Loans to enable them them access the scheme.

While commending the Estate Developers already working under the FISH programme, the HoS urged others to embrace the scheme so as to provide more houses for civil servants.

Earlier in her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Dr. Evelyn Ngige said that that the FISH programme is a key component of the welfare goal of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan aimed at improving the welfare of civil servants.

In his speech, the Executive Secretary, Federal Government Housing Loans Board (FGHLB), Mallam Ibrahim Mairiga said his board will do its best to ensure civil servants who desire to own homes get the loans before retirement.

The board he disclosed, has two major loan schemes: One is ‘pay-and-pack-in policy’ where interested civil servants access their houses the moment their mortgages are fully paid for while the other is ‘Starter Housing program’ for new entrants on Salary Grade levels 08 -14 who have 15 years and above in service to enable them access the loans of up to 14 million naira.

Two beneficiaries of the estates, Mrs Juliet Obe and Mr. Samuel Oluwole from Ministries of Education and Defence expressed their profound joy and thanked the Federal Government for making their dream come true. They appealed to the Federal Government to help in fixing the access roads to the estates.

 

Iheoma-Hart Queenet

For: Director, Press & Public Relations Unit

 6th July, 2021