The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) plans to revive the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) co-operative society scheme.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, who stated this at a two-day sensitisation workshop in Abuja, said the directorates involved in the housing project are Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Yemi-Esan said the workshop is to create awareness and sensitise civil servants on the modus-operandi of the FISH Co-operative Society, membership registration processes, guiding principles, ethics, opportunities and financial contributions.
Also, Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, OHCSF, Mr. Mahmud Kambari, said that there will be project selection criteria and governance structure, as well as the sustainability of the programme.
Initiated in 2015, Kambari explained, “It was designed to provide affordable housing for civil servants through an integrated strategy involving group land allocation, inter-ministerial collaborations and provision of infrastructure and site services.”
Represented by the Executive Secretary, Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board, Ibrahim Mariaga, noted that FISH was a sub-initiative captured under the sixth pillar of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan.
He said it is geared towards enhancing the value proposition of federal civil servants, has a target of delivering 500 housing units yearly and will serve as a catalyst for OHCSF in providing affordable housing to Federal workers.
Earlier, the Director, FISH Department, Mrs. Uchenna Obi, praised the efforts made so far towards accomplishing its mandate of delivering affordable housing to civil servants through the implementation and leadership, as well as funding of the scheme.
“The result of this is the commissioning of four estates and delivery of houses in different locations in Federal Capital Territory such as Mararaba, Kuje, Bwari, Karshi, Karu and Apo-Wumba to over 300 officers/off-takers.
“We have acquired landed properties at Gwagwalada (five hectares), Public Service Institute (five hectares) and Jiwa District (8.12 hectares), respectively,” Obi added.
