Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has laid the foundation for the construction of 40,000 housing units for workers in Abuja to reduce housing deficit.
The development is in line with a directive issued to the Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, by President Goodluck Jonathan to initiate a viable Housing Scheme to cater for the needs of Nigerian workers who are the engine of the country’s economy.
After laying the foundation on Saturday, Senator Mohammed told reporters that the housing units would reduce the housing deficit in the capital city and empower civil servants to own a house.
The multi-billion Naira housing projects are located in two districts in the FCT- Lugbe and Apo and it is being constructed in partnership with the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.
Senator Mohammed said that the projects had been designed in a manner that would ensure affordability by the workers.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Finance and the Managing Director of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinancing Company over a Federal Government Workers’ Housing Scheme, which is alleged to be facing funding challenges.
The chairman of the House Committee on Finance , Honourable Abdul Mumin Jibrin, gave the order on Friday.
The relevant ministries and government parastatals are expected to appear before the committee to explain what led to the insufficient funds in the scheme.
Angry subscribers of the Workers Affordable Housing Scheme had stormed the head office of the Nigerian Labour Congress to demand explanations after they paid a mandatory 10 per cent subscription fee for the houses and it appears nothing is happening.
The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress met the House of Representatives Committee on Finance to explain the challenges that the scheme had been facing.
