36 Rivers Workers Benefit From Housing Scheme

Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Hon Sampson Parker (right) discussing with Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Elio Savon Oliva (left) during a meeting between officials of the ministry and officials of Cuban Government in Port Harcourt, recently

No fewer than 36 civil servants in Rivers State last Wednesday took delivery of houses allocated to them under the state civil servants housing scheme.

Handing over the keys to the beneficiaries of the  houses  situated at the Iriebe Housing Estate in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, the Head of Service, Rivers State, Mrs Esther Anucha congratulated the beneficiaries for qualifying for the scheme.

The Head of Service, who was represented by the Director of Housing, Mr Godwin Chinwi remarked that a lot of responsibility had been placed on the allotees to ensure that the properties were well maintained and commended the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and Mortgage PHB for their support.

Mrs Anucha hinted of plans by the civil service commission to set up sensitisation committee to effectively mobilise participation of civil servants who had  hitherto lost faith in the scheme.

Zonal Coordinator of the FMBN, Mrs Felicia Amingo in her remarks earlier lauded the effort of the  Nigeria Civil Service Union for the support it gave in making the scheme a success.

Mrs Amingo charged the beneficiaries to serve as ambassdors of the scheme as a way of attracting civil servants, saying ‘ the scheme is real do go u tans tell others about it”.

She lauded the support of the Rivers State Government and the vision of Governor Chibuike Amaechi in cushioning the housing problems of civil servants in the state.

The General Manager of RHPDA, Architect Iyenfa Cookey-Gam said the Iriebe housing scheme was part of the National Housing Fund (NHF), which Rivers State was one of the earliest states that participated.

Currently, he stated that the Iriebe scheme had been 100 per cent over-subscribed, underscoring the need for more housing delivery in the country.

Architect Cookey-Gam explained that the target of the authority was to provide affordable housing for both government workers and the entire citizenry, but noted that it was still facing funding challenges.

The RHPDA General Manager commended the state government for providing the enabling environment and other supports to make the scheme work, and urged the beneficiaries that infrastructure would soon be provided in the estate.

The allotees were the second batch of beneficiaries as about 67 civil servants had at last year been handed their properties.

Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Hon Sampson Parker (right) discussing with Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Elio Savon Oliva (left) during a meeting between officials of the ministry and officials of Cuban Government in Port Harcourt, recently