Union partners Housing Loan Board, estate developer on affordable housing for members

Senior Staff Association of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, says it has partnered with Federal Government Housing Loan Board (FGSHLB) and BROOKS Asset and Resources Limited on provision of affordable housing for its members.

Chairman of the association, Mr Omoniyi Olalekan, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday, on the sidelines of the Senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospital (SSAUTHRIAI) home ownership scheme.

He said that the partnership was aimed at providing affordable housing for members, adding that all the stakeholders were invited to the hospital to explain the process and procedures to the prospective beneficiaries.

Olalekan, however, called for upward review of the 25 per cent of contributions in the Retirement Savings Account (RSA) earmarked by PENCOM for housing purpose.

“We’ve made it known to government since its circular on this matter came out. How much will 25 per cent be out of our pension contributions?

“There is the need for PENCOM to increase the RSA to something like 50 per cent,” he said.

According to him, increasing the earmarked amount to 50 per cent will be better than maintaining the current 25 per cent which is grossly inadequate.

Also speaking, Deputy Director, FGSHLB, Ibrahim Yakasai, said that the board was mandated to facilitate housing loans for federal public servants.

Yakasai said that federal public servants could access the loan anywhere in the country and also decide wherever they might want to build or purchase their houses.

He said that the loan scheme was tied to IPPIS, adding that those with genuine land with certificate of occupancy (C of O) could also obtain the loan.

“The loan does not fail in equity, only that you have to be a federal civil servant and the loan will be given based on your grade level,” the deputy director said.

Also, the Sales Manager, BROOKS Asset and Resources Limited, Mrs Temitope Shonde, said that the housing scheme was a good investment for civil servants.

Shonde encouraged the staffers to key into the scheme, noting that there were different apartments in different locations across Lagos, with different prices.