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By Maduka Nweke
The Lagos State Government has mapped out plans to assist personnel of Local Government Housing Loan Board to become landlords and own their homes.
The state government, through the Commissioner for Housing, this week, indicated the ministry’s readiness to assist the Local Government Staff Housing Loan Board to achieve an enduring partnership to increase access of local government personnel opportunities for home ownership.
According to a statement made available by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs of the Ministry of Housing, Ganiu Lawal, the collaboration for affordable housing for local government staff will involve review of existing regulation and laws establishing the Local Government Staff Housing Loan Board to improve ease of access and the amount to be accessed realistic for home ownership, renovation, and other purposes.
The revelation was made during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Housing by the leadership of the Local Government Housing Loan Board, led by the Chairman, Mrs Bibilomo Olusekun, the Permanent Secretary Office of Local Government Establishment and Training, alongside Local Government Council Managers from Agege Local Government, Orile Agege LCDA, Igando/Ikotun LCDA, Oto-Awori LCDA, and Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA, as well as the board secretary.The Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, assured the team that the ministry was ready to work with the board to achieve its aim within the 20 per cent slot graciously set aside for allocation to civil servants, which include local government staff, in Lagos State government owned housing estates. He further noted that while some local government staff have benefited from home allocation at various times, though not through the housing board. He emphasised that there are two available avenues for staff to access the housing opportunities; outright purchase and the Rent-to-Own scheme.
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Akinderu-Fatai also advised the board to engage local government authority leaderships in the state and stakeholders across the housing spectrum on possible opportunities for affordable housing units within their local government of residents.
Earlier in her opening remarks, the board Chairman, Mrs Olusekun, stated that though the board has over 3,000 loan beneficiaries across the 57 local governments and LCDA, it will appreciate the expansion of access to include ability of local government employees to benefit from the Ministry of Housing allotment of home units in completed housing estates.
Olusekun further stated that the board seeks a strategic partnership in order to enhance the welfare and productivity of the local government workforce. She appealed for the allocation of housing units to staff through the Local Government Staff Housing Board, at affordable and structured terms. According to her, this initiative would improve staff commitment, ensure a more secure future for employees, and reflect the government’s genuine commitment to the welfare of its workforce.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Engr. Abdulhafis Toriola, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to fostering a productive partnership with the Office of Local Government Establishment and Training, to ensure that the collaboration yields tangible benefits for the local government workforce. He further appreciated the board’s leadership for the visit and assured the delegation that their request would be duly considered within the available guideline.
