Housing Scheme For Federal Worker Wakes Off Soon

The Federal Government has inaugurated an 11-member committee on Integrated Staff Housing Programme (FISH) for civil servants

A press release made available yesterday said the Acting Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, inaugurated the committee in her office in Abuja.

According to the statement, she said that in the past, civil servants were motivated by the provision of staff quarters which accounted for their diligence, professionalism and high level of productivity. But she said that that fortune has dwindled since the staff quarters policy was abolished.

“Attempts to engage private developers to provide housing for workers since then has not yielded any positive results as civil servants are finding it more difficult to afford modest accommodation at the current market price,’’ Oyo-Ita said. She added that the FISH programme has been designed to provide cost effective and affordable housing for various categories of Federal Civil Servants as a means of improving their morale, commitment, productivity, stewardship and quality of life during and after service.

“The programme will not only motivate but also equip civil servants to achieve the status of EPIC civil servants, who are Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-Centred because they also deserve quality housing estates like their compatriots in the Armed Forces,” she explained.

According to the release, which was signed by the Deputy Director, Media Relations, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mohamed Manga, the 11 member committee drawn from the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government has the Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Yemi Adelakun, as Chairman, while the Deputy-Director, Administration, (General Services Office) in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Etim Inyang serves as its Secretary.

The terms of reference of the committee includes: to secure group land and allocation as well as title documents from relevant MDAs of government, including states and local governments for building massive housing for public servants; to partner with relevant stakeholders to source for funding for the construction of affordable houses for public servants; to mobilize and secure funds to adequately cater for the housing loan needs of the public servants at affordable interest rate as well as to collaborate and network with PENCOM, SURE-P, the Budget Office of the Federation, Ministry of Finance in raising funds for the FISH programme among others.

Adelakun promised that his committee was ready to deliver on their mandate.

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