Chairman and Chief Executive of Dangote Group of Companies, Aliko Dangote, has stressed the importance of government and organized private sector partnership for the stimulation of national development.
He submitted that if this is fostered, it would help in the area of building national values.
The business mogul made this known during the ground breaking ceremony of Federal Civil Servants Housing Estate, a project of Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) Programme, in partnership with ABSI Building System International.
The programme, held at the Apo Tafyi District, Abuja, was part of activities marking the 2016 Nigeria Civil Service Week celebration.
Represented at the occasion by the Executive Director, Dangote Group of Companies, Engineer Mansur Ahmed, Dangote, who was the Chairman of the occasion, stressed that, “As the Civil Service is mother of all institutions, if Civil Servants work, other institutions would work well.”
In her welcome address, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, said the provision of mass housing, as a basic need and necessity in every society, would also contribute to the development of national economy, through the generation of employment in the building and allied industries, and its attendant increase in financial intermediation and economic activities.
To address the nagging issues of housing gaps, especially for Federal Civil Servants, Mrs. Oyo –Ita said, “My Office conceptualized the FISH Programme to provide cost effective and affordable housing for various categories of workers, as a means to uplift their moral, commitment, stewardship and quality of life during and after service.”
Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office, in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and Chairman, FISH implementation Committee, Mr Yemi Adelakun said since the Staff Quarters Policy was abolished, the fortune of workers, in terms of accommodation, had dwindled.
According to him, with the introduction of FISH Programme, “the upper limit price for the low cost houses are N5m, N9m, and N12m for one bedroom, two bedrooms and three bedrooms respectively. These prices can be lower, depending on the level of infrastructure and site services FISH Programme can provide”, he said.
Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission, Mrs Joan Ayo said the scheme that would be cited on a 30 hectare of land was a welcome development, and any action that would motivate workers to deliver efficient services to Nigerians should be celebrated.
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Adedapo Adesanya