Minister of Housing and Urban Development Ahmed Dangiwa has encouraged continuous dialogue, mutual respect, and the pursuit of shared goals between the leadership of the civil servants’ union and the management of the ministry.
Dangiwa stated this when receiving the President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Shehu Mohammed, in his office in Abuja, calling for consistent staff welfare and others to make them a priority in the service.
He said, “Together, we can create a work environment that not only meets the aspirations of our workforce but also drives greater productivity, service delivery, and national development.”
The Housing Minister expressed the commitment of his leadership to building a Ministry where officers feel valued, opportunities for growth are encouraged, and the welfare of staff is consistently prioritised.
He, however, appreciated the timely nature and significance of the visit in reflecting the spirit of partnership between organised pressure groups and the government.
“It shows that beyond the call of duty, there is a desire on your part to collaborate in building a stronger and more effective public service,” he added.
While acknowledging the indispensable role of the civil servants in driving the wheels of progress, Dangiwa recognised that no policy, plan, or reform can succeed without the commitment and dedication of the workforce.
The minister told the union executive that the Renewed Hope Housing Programme was developed in Abuja, Lagos, and Kano States, while they have constructed estates across twelve states, offering a variety of decent, quality, and affordable homes that civil servants can access.
Dangiwa explained that some units under the Renewed Hope Cities may be priced beyond the immediate affordability of many civil servants, while the estates are being directly delivered and subsidised by the Federal Government to offer affordable options specifically targeted at workers and low- to medium-income earners.
He added, “We have various structured and flexible financing options available through the Federal Mortgage Bank to include: a 30-year National Housing Fund mortgage loan, rent-to-own schemes, instalment payment plans, and outright purchase for those who have the capacity.”
The minister, therefore, encouraged the civil servants to take advantage of the Renewed Hope Estates and the financing opportunities available through the FMBN to get their dream homes.
Earlier, National President of ASCSN, Shehu Mohammed, commended the Minister for initiating strategic plans to address the housing deficit in the country, stressing that civil servants, regardless of their income level, now have access to decent housing.
Mohammed called on the Federal Government to resolve the issue of inadequate office space within the Ministry, as demonstrated by the ongoing construction of a new office complex.
On the recent revocation of provisional offers of housing allocation under the National Housing Programme (NHP), the President appealed to the Minister to provide another opportunity for civil servants whose offers were revoked due to their inability to meet the payment deadline.
He regretted that many of the affected workers were constrained by the declining value of the new minimum wage of N70,000, which has been eroded by rising costs of goods and services.
Mohammed also raised the issue of payment of repatriation allowances for retiring officers, the provision of the first 28 days’ allowances for newly recruited officers, and the prompt disbursement of death benefits to the families of deceased officers.
He noted the challenges of inadequate transportation buses for staff and emphasised the need for continuous training and retraining of staff to enhance their productivity and service delivery.
While appreciating the ministry’s annual financial contribution to the union’s May Day celebration, Comrade Mohammed appealed for an increase in the amount allocated for the celebration, citing the prevailing economic conditions and rising prices.
Also, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, reaffirmed the ministry’s core mandate to ensure access to affordable housing, noting that significant efforts were being made to meet this goal, especially for civil servants, through various ongoing housing projects across the country.
Addressing their concerns, Belgore explained the ministry’s efforts to ensure that staff welfare, training, and benefits are prioritised, saying they are making efforts in the area of repatriation to clear the backlog of the death benefits and the first 28 days, despite the insufficiency of the overhead cost of the Ministry.
He hinted that the Ministry was making plans to provide four brand-new buses for staff as part of efforts to support staff mobility, promising that consideration would be made for what has been approved for the May Day celebration.
