National Assembly
By Henry Umoru
PRESIDENT of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, has assured that the National Assembly (NASS) will amend the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Act to boost the efficiency of the regulatory agency, as well as ensure compliance by private estate developers to government policies.
Speaking Tuesday when the Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority, Gbenga Ashafa, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to him, the Senate President stressed that an amendment of the FHA Act was long overdue, particularly against the backdrop of addressing the realities of the housing business in Nigeria.
In a statement by his Special Assistant, Press, Ezrel Tabiowo, Lawan said, “You talked about a possible amendment to the Act establishing the Federal Housing Authority.
“Propose those amendments and let us know through the Committee. It will be much easier for the National Assembly to help you by amending the Act.
“Identify the areas of law that you think that are holding you back because I can see there are many provisions which you’re not able to implement.
“If you think we need a paradigm shift, then we will change what is there so as to bring in amendments that will tally with present realities of our country.
ALSO READ: PIB scales first reading in Senate
“From early 1990 to date, I believe a lot has changed in the way the housing business is done. As such, there is a need to keep up with the realities of our time.”
The Senate President who advised the leadership of the Federal Housing Authority against proposing amendments to the Act that would allow the agency to assume dual responsibilities of being an operator and regulator at the same time, however, cautioned that doing so would be counterproductive to the realization of government policies and set targets.
The President of the Senate said, “Is FHA going to be a regulator or an operator? Because when you talk about development policy for housing in Nigeria, are you also going to be competition in estate development with those in the private sector?
“If you’re to do both, how do you guarantee optimal performance in view of distractions that may arise as a result of doing both? If you choose to be a regulator, you have to ensure compliance, efficiency, and effectiveness in operations, especially by private estate developers.
“However, if you choose to be both, then you have to find an exact role for you as an operator.”
Earlier, the Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority, Gbenga Ashafa who explained that the agency in its bid to provide affordable housing, came up with friendly policies that makes it easy for Nigerians to access housing funds, said, “The National Housing Funds makes it possible for every Nigerian earning N30,000 and above, to contribute 2.5 per cent of their monthly income to the scheme.
“Once they are able to do that for six months, they become qualified and eligible to access up to N15 million naira according to their monthly income and age.
“We have the approval of up to N1.2 billion, and the interest rate is six per cent.
“The FHA is entitled to two per cent of that interest, the Federal Mortgage Bank is supposed to retain another two percent, and the contributors who are Nigerians are expected to get two percent on contributions.
“If at the end of the day they could not access the funds, they are entitled to refunds with the two percent on whatever they have contributed.”
The former Senate member also stated that “Primarily, we are originating mortgages on property developed by the Federal Housing Authority, and we are allowed to collaborate with private developers.
“For example, in Gwagwalada, 250 houses were built by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.
“Over 179 of the beneficiaries are medical personnel from the Abuja Teaching Hospital.
“In Kuje, we have quite a large number from the Department of State Services (DSS), Police, Civil Defence, Immigration, and the Voice of Nigeria,” Ashafa said.
