Lagos approves 10- hectare land for workers’ housing scheme

• As LASRERA trains staff members on ethics, professionalism

BETTER days seem ahead for workers in Lagos State as the Governor; Mr. Babajide Sanwo- Olu, has approved a 10- hectare land in Idera, Ibeju Lekki, and Badagry for workers’ housing scheme.

The governor also assured the workers that their secretariat would also be ready before next year’s May Day celebration. Sanwo- Olu gave the approval at the International Workers’ Day in Lagos, where he handed over title documents to chairmen, Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC) and Trade Union Congress ( TUC).

The two housing projects would be built by the labour unions with funds from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria ( FMBN) while the state’s Ministry of Housing will supervise the project.

Speaking to The Guardian on the development, TUC Secretary General, Lagos Council, Mr. Abiodun Aladetan, explained that the council had been at the forefront of Federal housing scheme, a programme the chairman, comrade Gbenga Ekundayo took seriously with the Nigerian Labour Congress and Joint National Congress.

He said workers are happy with government’s approval of the housing project, as housing has been a major concern to all workers.

He disclosed that negotiation are ongoing with those who would develop it, stressing that the leadership will not take the issue of cost lightly as it is going to be on mortgage, probably on 15 or 20 years’ mortgage.

According to him, with the approval, the council will mobilise to move to site, as hopes is high that it would be completed before the end of this administration. “We are going to allocate it to members and it would be strictly on merit and not a scheme that politicians would hijack.

“It is better to start agitating for those things that keep eroding the value of the naira such as housing, transportation and others. So when you take housing out of the salary, the rest could be channeled to other useful venture. It would go a long way in assisting an average Nigerian worker.”

The NLC Secretary, Lagos State Council, Mr. Abiodun Bakare, noted that issue of housing had been a big issue for workers in the public and private sectors. “The approval has created a reasonable platform for worker to be homeowners. It is commendable and a thing of joy,” he said.

He stated that executive members of NLC and TUC would meet to deliberate on those who could fund the project.

MEANWHILE, the state’s Real Estate Regulatory Authority ( LASRERA) has ended an in- house learning programme on customer service, professional ethics and practice.

The purpose of the training, according to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mrs. Toke BensonAwoyinka, is to equip its staff members with requisite knowledge and increase their capacity for best practices.

The special adviser stated that the training provides ample opportunity for the staff to review and reflect on the changes being witnessed by the agency in its quest to sanitise real estate industry towards engendering best practices in the sector.

Benson- Awoyinka said, "As a team member of LASRERA, practitioners in the sector are bound to ask us many questions, lodge complaints and make different requests from us, including the general public, hence the need for us to be prepared to provide clear answers to all these enquiries.

The special adviser expressed hope that the training session will further build abilities of the participants on the present administration's policy of safeguarding and protecting investments as well as investors across the state.