The Chairman and Chief Executive, Dangote Group of Companies Alhaji, Aliko Dangote has said that the government and the organized private sector must continue to collaborate not only to build structures but also build other national values and maintain existing structures to stimulate national development.
Alhaji Dangote stated this during the ground breaking ceremony of Federal Civil Servants Housing Estate, a project of Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) Programme in partnership with ABSI Building System International at the Apo Tafyi District, Abuja as part of the activities marking the 2016 Nigeria Civil Service Week Celebration.
Represented at the occasion by the Executive Director, Dangote Group of Companies, Engineer Mansur Ahmed, Dangote who was the Chairman of the occasion said, “as the Civil Service is mother of all institutions, if Civil Servants works, other institutions would work well”.
In her welcome address at the occasion, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, said the provision of mass housing as a basic need and necessity in every society would also contribute to the development of national economy through the generation of employment in the building and allied industries and its attendant increase in financial intermediation and economic activities.
To address the nagging issues of housing gaps especially for Federal Civil Servants, Mrs. Oyo –Ita said, “my Office conceptualized the FISH Programme to provide cost effective and affordable housing for various categories of workers as a means to uplift their moral, commitment, stewardship and quality of life during and after service,”.
The Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and Chairman, FISH implementation Committee, Mr. Yemi Adelakun, said since the Staff Quarters Policy was abolished, the fortune of workers in terms of accommodation had dwindled.
According to him, with the introduction of FISH Programme, “the upper limit price for the low cost houses are N5m, N9m, and N12m for one bedroom, two bedrooms and three bedrooms respectively. These prices can be lower depending on the level of infrastructure and site services FISH Programme can provide.” He said.
The Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Deaconess Joan Ayo, said the scheme that would be cited on a 30 hectare of land was a welcome development and any action that would motivate workers to deliver efficient services to Nigerians should be celebrated.
