Local Government Staff Housing Board Seeks Partnerships With Ministry of Housing

The Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, has expressed the Ministry’s readiness to partner with the Local Government Staff Housing Board to enhance access to affordable housing for local government employees. He made this known during a courtesy visit to the Ministry by the leadership of the Board, led by its Chairman, Mrs. Bibilomo Olusekun, alongside the Permanent Secretary, Office of Local Government Establishment and Training, and several Council Managers from Agege, Orile Agege, Igando/Ikotun, Oto-Awori, and Agbado Oke-Odo LCDAs.

Hon. Akinderu-Fatai explained that the collaboration would involve a comprehensive review of existing regulations and laws establishing the Local Government Staff Housing Board. This, he noted, would make access to housing loans easier and more realistic for home ownership, renovation, and related purposes. He assured that the Ministry is committed to supporting the Board’s vision within the 20% housing allocation reserved for civil servants, including local government staff, in state-owned housing estates.

The Commissioner further noted that while some local government employees had previously benefited from housing allocations, it was not through the Housing Board. He highlighted two key avenues available to staff for accessing homes outright purchase and the Rent-to-Own scheme, both designed to make housing more attainable. He encouraged the Board to engage local government leadership and other housing stakeholders to explore more opportunities for affordable housing development within their respective communities.

In her remarks, Mrs. Bibilomo Olusekun appreciated the Ministry’s openness to collaboration and stated that the Board, which already has over 3,000 loan beneficiaries across the 57 LGs and LCDAs, seeks to expand access for more staff members. She appealed for the inclusion of local government employees in the Ministry’s housing allocations at affordable and structured payment terms, emphasizing that such support would significantly improve staff morale, welfare, and productivity.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Engr. Abdulhafis Toriola, reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to strengthening its partnership with the Office of Local Government Establishment and Training. He assured the delegation that their request would be duly considered within the Ministry’s operational framework and guidelines. Engr. Toriola commended the Board for its proactive efforts in improving staff welfare and reiterated that the initiative aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision of ensuring decent and affordable housing for all categories of workers in Lagos State.