Fashola assures on houses for low-income earners

… domestication of housing related agreements

Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing has assured Nigerians of the present administration’s commitment towards provision of affordable houses for low income earners.

Fashola gave the assurance while addressing the House Committee on Habitat, chaired by Obinna Chidoka, who requested for details of the budget implementation on Habitat.

Fashola who announced the ministry’s plans to roll out habitat agenda that would accommodate public and private sector workers, especially persons with low incomes, disclosed that consideration will be given to workers within Grade Levels 08 to 15.

He explained that the new policy would be standardized and made flexible to take into consideration building needs of Nigerians across ethic, cultural and religious backgrounds.

According to him, parts of the considerations include provisions of power, water, access roads and security for the proposed low-cost houses.

“At the ministry, we see issues of habitat as crucial in driving the housing sector in the country.

“This is the reason we participated in the habitat conference, where we expressed our commitments and are working towards the domestication of the agreements we have reached on housing matters.

“For the 2016 budget relating to habitat, the records of expenditures are not with me right now. There are with the DFA (director of finance) and will be made available to you later.

“But I must say that we’re starting a new housing policy, in which we’ll create economic outlets for artisans.

“We are aiming at completing old housing schemes and beginning new ones, where we’re targeting those in levels 08 to 15 in public sector and those in private sector, bearing in mind the different cultural, religious and other needs of the people in the construction of the buildings,” the Minister said.

Speaking earlier, Obinna Chidoka requested for details of the 2016 budgetary spending on Habitat, following the merging of the former Ministry of Housing and Urban Development with Ministry of Power, Works and Housing by the present administration.

He also pledged the Committee’s readiness to provide necessary assistance in enhancing activities in the Ministry through adequate funding.