Sanwo-Olu increases housing loan subvention for civil servants to N1b

 

By Oyebola Owolabi 

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has increased the yearly subvention for housing facilities for the 98,534 civil servants from N100 million to N1 billion.

Head of Service (HoS), Bode Agoro, hinted this at the closing of the ministerial press briefing to mark the first year of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s second term.

Agoro also said the number of civil servants increased to 98,534, inclusive of local government staff.

The HoS said the governor also increased the yearly subvention for car refurbishment loan from N100 million to N1 billion.

He said: “The governor has also approved a 100 per cent upward review of staff housing loans to various categories of public servants to enable them purchase/renovate existing land. This bill has been passed by the House of Assembly and is awaiting the final assent of Mr. Governor.

The approval is N400,000 to N800,000(Level 1-4);

N600,000 to N1.2 million (Level 5-8); N800,000 to N1.6 million (Level 9-14) and N1 million to N2 million (Level 15-17).”

Mr. Agoro explained that the Staff Housing and Loans Board was established in 1976 to cater for the ever-increasing demand for government staff quarters, by providing decent and affordable housing units to public servants, and also provide soft loans to enable members of staff access funds to purchase land towards building their own houses or renovate existing ones, as well as for the refurbishment of personal vehicles.

The HoS added that as part of welfare packages for workers, the governor has approved the allotment of two blocks each to the Staff Housing Board across all completed Housing Schemes executed by the Ministry of Housing.

“This undoubtedly will add to the fleet of Government Staff Quarters and cater for more accommodation prospects to deserving public servants.

“For more efficient and effective service delivery by members of the Board, the Head of Service, with the approval of Mr. Governor, has initiated the adoption of a Software Management Information System to enhance our Departmental Business Process tailored towards the attainment of our Ministerial Mandate in this wise.

“Other laudable intervention programmes during the period under review include, but not limited to implementation of the N35,000 Wage Award for public servants effective December 2023; re-implementation of 25 per cent Basic Salary Incentives for Core Establishment Agencies; implementation of work time flexibility which allows civil servants on grade levels 01-14 to work from home twice in a week, while those on Grade Levels 15-17 are allowed once a week with effect from February 28; implementation of 40 per cent rebate on statutory fees payable to government by public servants on applications for Physical Planning Permit; allocation of government housing schemes and land allocation in the government schemes; Ppayment of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service arrears on consequential adjustment; payment of consequential adjustment in pensions arising from the implementation of the National Minimum Wage of 2019 for pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme in the public service with effect from January 2024,” he added.

 

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