RSG Earmarks 300 Houses For Public Servants

In fulfillment of its promise to provide decent and affordable houses for the people of the State, the Rivers State Government (RSG) is undertaking the construction of housing units for sale to members of the public under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Initiative with RivTaff Gulf Estate. 300 of the housing units, located along Dr. Peter Odili Road in Port Harcourt, have been reserved for sale to public servants in the State.

Head of Service, Barrister Samuel LongJohn made this known in Port Harcourt at a meeting with representatives of labour unions, government and private agencies in continuation of negotiations to address issues raised by labour in the wake of the shelved industrial action.

Barrister LongJohn said the housing units, consisting of two and three bedroom flats, could be accessed by public servants who have ten years or more to serve, pointing out that interested public servants would undergo prequalification while allottees would be required to pay an initial deposit of 30 percent of the cost of the housing units.

He added that private mortgage finance institutions, Aso Savings and Loans and First Bank Plc would pay the balance while deductions would be made from salaries of beneficiaries upon completion of the houses and attracts an interest of six percent.

The Head of Service also disclosed that payment of arrears of 70 percent salary relativity and the new minimum wage, which began in November, 2012, would now be made in 10 installments as a result of  the huge amount of 8.9 billion Naira owed to workers amounting to over eight million Naira monthly.

The meeting also deliberated on refund of pension erroneously deducted from salaries of workers not included in the new pension scheme, the new tax regime and the National Housing Fund Scheme.

Director of Payroll Department in the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Ernest Chapp-Jumbo informed the Head of Service that refund of pension erroneously deducted had been made to those affected while further discussions on the new tax regime was deferred to a later date based on submissions by labour unions and the State Board of Internal Revenue.

On the National Housing Fund Scheme, the State Accountant General was asked to provide list of contributors between July and October, 2012 and to liaise with Zenith Bank Plc to provide same during the period they were in charge of payment of salaries, to enable the Ministry of Finance update the individual pass books.

Others in attendance were the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare, Mr. Lambert Ekwueme, his counterpart in the Establishment, Training and Pension Bureau, Dr. Rogers Weli, Chairman and members of the Rivers State Pensions Board, the General Manager of the Rivers State Housing and Property Development Authority, Mr. Iyerifa Cookeygam, officials of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and chairmen of the NLC, TUC and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council.

L-R: Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Amina Sambo, First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo, during a Christmas Homage to the President in Abuja, on Tuesday.