The Lagos State Government says it has so far disbursed a total sum of N147,686,764.77 as housing loan to 667 civil servants in the state to purchase land, build houses and renovate existing accommodation.
The Head of Service, Mrs. Olabowale Ademola, stated this during a press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, adding that the gesture was part of the staff welfare mandate of her office.
She said the state’s staff housing loan available to public servants was increased from N50m to N100m in the first quarter of the year to ensure that more members of staff had access to the facility.
She said, “A total sum of N147,686,764.77 was disbursed to 667 public servants as part of the staff welfare mandate of the Office of the Head of Service.”
The HoS also stated that in the last one year, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had facilitated the completion of the HoS Staff Quarters Complex, comprising four blocks of 16 flats each, adding that Ambode had approved its immediate allocation to public servants in the state.
She said, “Beneficiaries have been issued letters of allocation, collected their keys, while some have moved in. The modern facilities and the proximity of the complex to the state secretariat, make it convenient for beneficiaries and their families, and it is expected to boost workers’ productivity.”
Ademola also said the state government had approved the unification of the schemes of service, career progression and terminal salary grade levels with effect from January 2016.
“In order to enhance the career progression of officers in public service and address issues whereby officers on Grade Level 12 and above are usually stepped down by one grade level upon conversion from a sub-cadre to officer cadre, the governor approved the review of the policy on conversion to henceforth be lateral conversion in the interest of equity and harmonisation,” she added.