Executive Secretary of the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board (FGSHLB) Dr. Hannatu Adamu Fika, at the weekend, said the board is seeking all legitimate means to ensure federal public servants have access to durable, quality and affordable homes.
This, she said was to motivate the civil servants to contribute their quota towards the country’s socio-economic development.
Dr. Fika spoke at a meeting between the Board and the management of Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC). The institutions entered into a partnership to ease the difficulty in accessing mortgages by staffs of Ministries, Departments Agencies (MDAs) to build their own homes.
Her words: “The partnership would assist public servants who are waiting to access housing loan, either to build or purchase houses directly from developers.
“The loan disbursed through the Board is risk- free since the Board has a robust repayment mechanism. Most of the public servants are on IPPIS platform and repayment of housing loan is a first charge on their salary.
“Staff welfare is a priority in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and the Head of the Civil Service, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that workers’ motivation becomes a reality, especially through the provision of affordable houses.
Managing Director of NMRC Prof Charles Inyongete assured Dr. Fika that with the large portfolio of mortgage from the Board, the NMRC would secure a refinance on a single-digit interest rate, which will make the facility convenient for public servants.
Prof. Inyongete reaffirmed his commitment to refinance all conforming loans brought to NMRC through appropriate channels and look forward to an enduring relationship.