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. (NAN)
Saturday fire guts property estimated at N39m in ilorin
A Saturday fire at a paints shop in Ilorin razed two adjoining residential buildings and destroyed properties estimated at about N39 million.
The fire destroyed five other shops beside the paint shop.
Spokesman of Kwara Fire Service, Mr Hassan Adekunle, stated that “a paints shop suddenly caught fire and destroyed two residential buildings built beside it; a storey building and a bungalow.
“Aside the two residential buildings destroyed by the ravaging fire, five other shops in the vicinity were also affected.
“Firemen were able to extinguish the fire and prevented it from spreading to more buildings.
“The fire was intensified by the flammable nature of paints and would have been contained earlier if onlookers and sympathisers had alerted the Fire Service early enough,’’ Adekunle stated.
Director of Kwara Fire Service, Mr Falade Olumuyiwa, also urged residents to always switch off electrical appliances while leaving their homes and at bedtime to stave off fire accidents.