Housing has long been recognized as one of the key and basic needs of man.
It also recognized as a formidable provider of employment not only to the professionals in the built environment but also to those I the business of manufacturing and producers of building materials as well as food vendors.
Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari throught his Deputy Alhaji Mannir Yakubu stated this during the commissioning of FMBN, NLC TUC and NECA Housing estate under the national affordable housing delivery programme for Nigerian Workers held Kabukawa, Katsina.
Alhaji Mannir Yakubu said, state government has considered federal mortgage Bank of Nigeria as key partner in it drive to provide affordable homes to Katsina citizens.
He said, government had believed that, approving to state workers to participate in the National Housing fund scheme would leverage on the bank’s mandate to provide decent and affordable housing to the state citizens.
The Deputy Governor observed that, Katsina state is one of the highest contributors to the NHF scheme.
Alh Mannir Yakubu expressed the hope that, transparent process would be followed for the distribution of the housing to enable Katsina citizens to own their own homes at affordable prices.
The Deputy Governor congratulated, the Management of Federal mortgage bank, leadership of NLC, TUC and NECA for the milestone.
Earlier the Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria Mr Masu Hamman represented by the Executive Director Finance and corporate services of the Bank Zubaida Umar said the project came into reality due to the partnership between organized Labour Union ls of NLC, TUC and NECA to facilitate the home ownership dream of Union members who are contributors to the National Housing Fund NHF Scheme.
She said, the NHF is a mandatory contributory scheme that requires worker in both public and private sector to contribute 2.5 percent of their monthly income to the scheme.
The Director explained that, based on regular contribution to the fund a contributor becomes eligible to enjoy FMBN a number of loans and services.
According to her the NHF scheme is meeting it mandate of providing access to home ownership to the overriding majority of middle and low income working class in Nigeria who are also the commanding majority of the contributors to the NHF scheme.
In their separate remarks, the representatives of NLC, TUC and Neca expressed gratitude to the Katsina state government, management of mortgage bank and other stakeholders contributed towards the construction of the housing.
COV/YUF
