NLC, FMBN To Partner On Housing

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is set to partner with the  Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to draw up a roadmap on affordable housing delivery in the country.

The NLC President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar stated this when the Chairman, board of directors of the bank, Mr Bisi Ogunjobi led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Labour House in Abuja.

Ogunjobi said that with the expected partnership, workers in Nigeria would soon breathe a sigh of relief in their struggle for affordable housing.

He called for a robust partnership with stakeholders in the housing sector, especially labour unions, to implement housing plans for workers.

Ogunjobi stressed the need for the improvement of housing finance for the public and private sector, saying that it was necessary for all public and private sector workers to have access to housing finance.

He decried the low turnout and non-participation by some states in the National Housing Fund (NHF) and appealed to the NLC to assist in getting the states that have yet to join the Fund, to do so.

Ogunjobi did not name the states that were not participating in the scheme, but called on contributors to be consistent in their payments to the bank.

He underscored the need for relevant stakeholders to contribute their expertise to the bank’s drive to review its policies to meet changing trends in the housing sector.

Umar pledged the congress’s continued partnership in the provision of affordable housing for workers.

Umar called for a more flexible means of accessing loans by the bank, saying that it had been a major problem encountered by individuals and groups.

He urged the bank to adequately invest payments made by contributors to fast track housing finance in the country.

The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria is the government institution responsible for the availability and promotion of housing finance in the country.