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Ahmed Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, has called for continuous dialogue, mutual respect, and shared purpose between the Ministry’s leadership and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), in a bid to foster an inclusive and productive public service.
Dangiwa appealed on Tuesday, while receiving the national leadership of ASCSN, led by its President, Shehu Mohammed, on a courtesy visit to the Ministry in Abuja.
According to a statement signed by Salisu Haiba, Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations,, the Minister emphasized that strengthening collaboration between government and organised labour groups i critical for emphasising an efficient public sector workforce.
“Together, we can create a work environment that not only meets the aspirations of our workforce but also drives greater productivity, service delivery, and national development,” Dangiwa said.
He assured the Union of his commitment to building a Ministry where staff are valued, encouraged to grow, and enjoy improved welfare.
He praised the ASCSN for initiating the visit, describing it as a demonstration of genuine interest in working with the government to achieve a stronger public service.
Recognising the central role civil servants play in implementing policies and reforms, Dangiwa stated, “No policy, plan, or reform can succeed without the commitment and dedication of the workforce.”
The Minister also briefed the ASCSN on the Ministry’s flagship Renewed Hope Housing Programme under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He disclosed that new housing developments are underway in Abuja, Lagos, and Kano, as well as in twelve other states, offering decent and affordable homes for Nigerians particularly civil servants.
He explained that while some housing units in the Renewed Hope Cities may be beyond the immediate financial reach of many workers, the Renewed Hope Estates which are directly subsidized by the Federal Government, are specifically designed for low- to medium-income earners, including subsidised units.
Dangiwa also outlined various accessible financing options provided through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), such as 30-year National Housing Fund mortgage loans, rent-to-own schemes, installment payment plans, and outright purchase arrangements.
He urged civil servants to take advantage of instalment initiatives.
Earlier, Shehu Mohammed, ASCSN President commended the Minister for his strategic efforts in tackling Nigeria’s housing deficit, noting that civil servants across income levels now have increased access to decent housing.
He further lauded the ongoing construction of a new office complex for the Ministry, which he said reflects the Minister’s commitment to resolving the problem of inadequate workspace.
However, Mohammed appealed to the Minister to reconsider the recent revocation of provisional housing allocations under the National Housing Programme, noting that many civil servants were unable to meet the payment deadlines due to the economic impact on their earnings, including the erosion of the N70,000 minimum wage by inflation.
The union leader also highlighted other issues affecting civil servants, such as delayed repatriation allowances for retirees, non-payment of the first 28-days allowance for newly employed officers, and sluggish disbursement of death benefits to families of de28-dayworkers.
He also raised concerns over inadequate staff buses and called for regular training to boost efficiency.
Mohammed appreciated the Ministry’s consistent financial support for ASCSN’s annual May Day celebrations but appealed for a review and increase in the allocation, citing rising costs of organising the event.
Responding to these concerns, Shuaib Belgore, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, reaffirmed the Ministry’s mandate to provide affordable housing, especially for civil servants.
He noted ongoing efforts to resolve pending staff welfare issues, including repatriation and death benefits, despite limited overhead funding.
Belgore also revealed that the Ministry is working to acquire four brand new buses to ease staff mobility and promised to review the May Day celebration allocation in light of current economic realities.
