We Create Jobs Through Housing Construction - Perm Sec
Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Babangida Hussaini said the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration is creating jobs for Nigerians through construction of mass housing nationwide.
Hussaini who made the remarks at the ongoing 10th National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development holding in Lagos State was represented at the occasion by the Director Lands and Housing of the Ministry, Mrs. Great- Edereka.
The theme of the Council meeting is "Housing Development as a Catalyst for Job Creation, Social Inclusion and Economic Development."
Hussaini restated the commitment of the Federal Government towards the creation of employment for the citizens through mass housing construction across the states.
The Permanent Secretary said that the present administration is committed to addressing critical economic challenges confronting the country as well as lifting hundred Nigerians out of poverty through creation of jobs and sustenance of an inclusive egalitarian society.
He explained that the construction of mass housing by the federal government under the National Housing Programme has led to the creation of numerous jobs both directly and indirectly, pointing out that it has positively impacted immensely on the economy.
"This Programme has impacted massively on the national economy through the creation of direct and indirect jobs," he said.
The Permanent Secretary disclosed that the federal government had embarked on the construction of decent and affordable mass housing nationwide under the National Housing Programme (NHP) and also strengthened collaboration with the organised private sector under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) to provide same to Nigerians.
Hussaini also disclosed that in a bid to realise President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision to expand the infrastructure and housing stock of the nation, the Ministry has adequately supported the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and Federal Housing Authority with all the necessary assistance needed.
While urging the participants to engage in a robust deliberation on memoranda presented before them, he noted that it was the responsibility of stakeholders in the built industry to ensure that housing development served as a catalyst for job creation, social inclusion and economic development.
Hussaini said "The task of ensuring that housing development serves as a catalyst for job creation, social inclusion and economic development rest on the shoulders of all the stakeholders in the industry," therefore " I urge all stakeholders in the industry to make good use of the opportunity provided by the council meeting to deliberate on memoranda submitted towards formulating and strengthening policies that will address housing development in Nigeria."
Speaking earlier, the Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lagos State, TPL Dr. Idris Salako, revealed that the Lagos State Government had relaxed some policies to encourage investments in the Real Estate Sector for housing provision by lifting embargoes from areas that were under various ban.
He explained that the advantages of the policy relaxation included: availability of more land for housing delivery, abundant job creation to engage professionals, technicians and artisans in the production line of the housing sector.
The day three of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development Meeting is the day of the meeting of the body of Permanent Secretaries under the Chairmanship of the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.
The meeting was to deliberate and brainstorm on the memoranda earlier produced during the first two days meeting of the technical officers and directors of relevant agencies in the built industry.
The body of the Permanent Secretaries will forward their report to the higher body of States' Commissioners meeting of the built industry under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing for final endorsement.
