FG Passionate About Training Workers   The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Bashir Nura Alkali has stated that the Federal Government is passionate about skill acquisition and professionalism among its workers and as such deemed it necessary to equip and train its officers in the areas of Leadership, Professional Ethics, Code of Conduct in Public Service and Career Prospects and Progression for Professionals to achieve positive and maximum work output. Alkali made the remarks at the opening of a Professional Training for Lands and Estate Officers in the Lands and Housing Development Department of Federal Ministry of Works and Housing which held at the conference hall of the Ministry. The Permanent Secretary noted that there has been low productivity, indiscipline and lack of efficiency among officers and to curb these unproductive attitude officers needed to be trained and re-trained to enhance greater understanding of their responsibilities coupled with the knowledge and skill needed to do work to enhance productivity and maximum output which had necessitated this training programme. He stated that he is pleased with the training, giving the present disposition and lack of commitment among members of staff in the Public Service considering the growing awareness and expectation of service delivery from Public Officers in a growing democracy like ours. “The importance of this training at this time cannot be overemphasized with the growing awareness and expectation of service delivery from Public Officers in a growing democracy like ours.  It is important that those vested with the management of most valuable assets be made to increase their efficiency and productivity as well as professionalism to grow the economy.” Alkali encouraged officers to be committed and make the programme a great success so as to gain maximum benefits in their career as Lands Officers to improve efficiency and productivity. There were four paper presentations namely: Career Prospects and Progression for Professionals and the Public Service by the Director Performance Management Department, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Mrs. B.O Olaniyi, Leadership Training/Professional Ethics for Estate Surveyors and Valuers in Public Service by the Registrar Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON), ESV Ifeanyi Uzonwanne, Proposal, Memo and Report Writing in Public Service by the Director/HOD Lands and Housing Department, ESV. Itoyachimin Godwin, and the Role of Estate Officers/Land Officers in the Execution of the Statutory Responsibilities of the Department of Lands and Housing Development by ESV. Felix Appah. ...

We Are Committed To Fighting Corruption In The Ministry- Nura Alkali The Permanent Secretary of Works and Housing, Bashir Nura Alkali has stated that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing is committed to stemming corrupt practices in the Ministry with the inauguration of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU). The Permanent Secretary represented by the Director of Human Resource in the Ministry, Abdullahi Aliyu stated this during the inauguration and induction of the new Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) members in the Ministry on Wednesday, November 23, 2022. According to Alkali, the Ministry is in full support of all the activities of the ACTU in the Ministry saying, “We respond to requests for information from ICPC promptly and we make sure that we support the activities and programmes of ACTU without delay." Accordingly, he said that the Ministry was also supporting the ACTU in sensitization and awareness creation in order to fight corrupt practices in the Ministry. Explaining that the Ministry has done a lot in support of the ACTU activities, he said: “we have a very active Chairman and Team at the Ministry and I will not be exaggerating if I say the Ministry’s ACTU is one of the most active in Federal Government MDAs. He commended ICPC and assured that the Ministry would not relent in its efforts and drive in fighting corrupt practices in the Ministry in particular and Nigeria in general through established viable platforms like the ACTU. Delivering his goodwill message, the Chairman of ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye represented by Mrs. Lasis Mutiat stated that ACTUs in MDAs were initiated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in collaboration with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation as an in-house check mechanism to assist management of MDAs in corruption prevention and to entrench ethical principles within the organizations. According to the ICPC Chairman the inauguration and induction of the ACTU in the Ministry was undoubtedly a strong testament and commitment of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to supporting and implementing the anti-corruption initiatives of the Federal Government. Listing the functions of the ACTU in the Ministry, he said: “The main duties of ACTU are to undertake periodic sensitization of staff on and against corruption, examine systems, processes and procedures that are prone to corruption and proffer solutions and develop a Code of Ethics/Conduct for staff to ensure compliance with the same. Continuing, he listed other duties including monitoring budget implementation, implementation of the Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard as well as investigating complaints or reports received from the staff of the Ministry. Giving his Vote of Thanks, the Deputy-Director/Chairman of ACTU of the Ministry, Barrister Sunny Iyang thanked God for the opportunity given to them in the committee to serve in the capacity as an agent fighting against corruption in the Ministry, saying that corruption is a deadly disease ravaging the entire nation. He said: “It is worthy to be entrusted with the responsibility to fight corruption in the system. Our appointment is a litmus test for our integrity in the fight against corruption and we will help the Ministry and ICPC to fight this dreaded ill of the society called corruption to an end." The oath of allegiance which was administered to the newly inaugurated members by Barrister Jennifer Ode on behalf of the ICPC Chairman charged them to live above board as the inauguration and induction of today 23rd of November, 2022 signify their journey for the three years’ tenure as members of the Ministry's ACTU. The chairman also added that the tenure was renewable for another three years after serving the first tenure in office. ...

Strive For Excellence, Groom Professionals - Fashola Urges TOPREC The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has urged the Town Planners Registration Council (TOPREC), as a core custodian of the environment to continue in its pursuit of excellence so that thoroughbred professionals are groomed. Fashola spoke in Abuja at the official commissioning of the Council's office building, Thursday, September 17, 2022, The Minister who was represented by the Minister of State, Hon.  Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub, stated that sticking to core mandate of breeding professionals as Town Planners, would help tackle present-day challenges in the nation’s-built industry. He said: “How our towns and cities can be transformed and better managed in a robust, harmonized and wholesome manner to make them more livable, productive, secure, sustainable, and become centers of excellence ", should be your responsibility to achieve.  The Minister commended the Council for the historic stride, saying that the Management and Staff of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing join their voices with others to felicitate with TOPREC on this historic occasion. He added that, it speaks volume of their commitment to advancing the cause of the built environment and installing sustainable development in Nigeria. " Undoubtedly, with this befitting structure now in place, the former challenges of inadequate and none functional operating office space for the staff and Council Members have been resolved. Henceforth it will be better positioned to focus on upscaling its primary constitutional role of regulating the training and practice of Urban and Regional Planning for the benefit of the Built Environment in Nigeria “he said. Earlier, the President of the Town Planners Registration Council, Tpl Isyaku Kura said that the Office building being commissioned marks a significant milestone in the history of the Council and Town Planning in Nigeria as it would provide a decent and conducive environment for their duties.  “A building of this magnitude would not have come without foresight, commitment and discipline,” he said. He said that the Town Planners Registration Council was established by the Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria CAP T7, LFN 2004 (Decree No. 3 of 1988) to regulate and control the practice of the profession of Physical Planning in its entirety.  Accordingly, he explained that the activities of the council are geared towards engendering functional, productive and sustainable physical planning activities in the country. While thanking the Honourable Minister for this feat, he pledged to lead the Council as a front burner in regulating and controlling town planning activities in line with the Council's mandate, adding that the new office complex would provide a conducive atmosphere to do that. It was a very colorful commissioning that was well attended. ...