By Suleiman Yakubu

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to pull out workers from the National Housing Fund’s (NHF) contributory funds over non-remittance of deductions made.
Mr. Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, made the threat in Abuja on Wednesday while appearing before the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Non-Remittance to the NHF and Utilisation of the Funds from 2011 to date.
Ajaero said the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has failed to send alerts to civil servants about how much they have been contributing, including their monthly deduction.
He urged the lawmakers to take drastic steps to remove the encumbrances to affordable and quality housing for millions of Nigerians, especially workers who make the most contributions to the NHF.
This, according to him, is as identified in the memorandum and other memoranda submitted to the committee.
According to him, the immediate past Managing Director of FMBN, Mr. Ahmed Dangiwa, who is now the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, said he left behind N120 billion in the coffers of the bank.
"He said he was able to mobilise 249.1 billion to Nigeria’s housing fund and increase subscription to 197,000 between 2017 and 2022.
He said that in spite of these milestones, millions of Nigerian workers who are in line with Sections 4 and 10 of the Act are unable to access finance to acquire, build, or renovate personal housing property.
He said the ease of reimbursement to retired workers of contributed funds even after failure to access housing loans is also cumbersome and unnerving.
He said that despite making the statutory contributions of 2.5 percent of their annual salary to the NHF, many workers were unable to access the loan due mainly to administrative bottlenecks.
"While the Act provides for 90 days from the date of application for the loan to disbursement, the experience of many workers is horrific as the undue delay in approving the loans forces many workers to abandon pursuit of the loan.
He said many resort to third-party agencies to fast-track the loan application at unofficial fees, thus creating a perception of corruption in the process of housing loan approval and disbursement to workers who need the funds.
Mr. Madu Hamman, Managing Director, said the total amount of contribution from MDAs from 2011 till date is N238 billion, adding that individuals contribution from 2011 till date was N225 million.
He said that the ministerial housing scheme was worth N34.5 billion.
He did, however, have time to reconcile the conflicting documents from the ministerial housing pilot scheme, which were missing from the one the chairman had.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Musa Bagos, while cross-examining the agency aid, found the deference in the documents submitted by the MD inconsistent.
He said that should the committee continue with the hearing, many officials of FMBN would be on their way to Kuje prison.
Bagos therefore adjourned the hearing to August 24, following a request by the MD to enable them to put all the necessary documents together.

By Suleiman Yakubu

The All Progressives Congress North Central Elders Forum has called for the establishment of a North Central Development Commission to harness its potential.
Mr. Lawrence Onoja, the convener and leader of the forum, said this in Abuja when he led members of the forum on a visit to the APC National Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje.
"We require a North Central Development Commission that will coordinate strategies for harnessing the rich agriculture, tourism, educational, and human potentials of the zone in the interest of national development.
"We request the government under the leadership of our party to come up with policies that will encourage our patronage of local miners instead of patronising foreigners.
"We will need a development agency such as NDDC in the South; we need a North East Development Commission in North East," he said.
Onoja said the visit was to congratulate Ganduje on his appointment and to pledge the forum’s unflinching support to him and President Tinubu’s administration.
He added that the visit was premised on the mutual trust and confidence the elders of the zone had in Ganduje.
"Besides, as a servant leader, experienced administrator in governance, listener, and peacemaker, we believe you will listen and act on our suggestions and requests", he said.
He said that Ganduje’s knowledge and wealth of experience in the act of governance as a mark of credible leadership credentials as a peacemaker and unifier stood him out among others.
He said the forum had no doubt that Ganduje would always bring his experiences to bear on his leadership as APC national chairman.
"Only a few days ago, you demonstrated this peace-making character and attitude in you when you received APC leadership and caucus members from the Kano State House of Assembly.
"You charged them to cooperate with your successor, Gov. Abba Yusuf, who is of the opposing party, the NNPP, for the development of Kano State.
"Only statesmen and good and peaceful leaders like you could do that," he said.
Onoja advised Ganduje to carry every group and section along as a demonstration of his transparency in administration and to consolidate the party’s position. This, he said, would inspire the trust and confidence of Nigerians in the leadership of President Tinubu, who is also the party’s leader.
"We implore you to deepen and strengthen the internal democracy of the party by bringing your wisdom, wealth of experience, and peacemaking skills to unify the party.
"Do this by having in place a special peace and reconciliation committee made of trusted men and women at national and state levels.
"With ideas and strategies to identify the challenges in our party, we can reconcile the differences at the various levels. We will be stronger in governance only as we remain united as a ruling party," he said.
He also pleaded that party members in the zone be remembered in the distribution of key appointments in federal boards, parastatals, commissions, and agencies in line with the federal character principle.
He said that the North Central Zone had witnessed the most prolonged state of insecurity experienced in the fourth republic in the form of terrorist and bandit attacks.
"This has resulted in adverse consequences for the social cohesion of the people, food security, and education, among others.
"We request that you use your good offices to help encourage us to develop new strategies that will address the security challenges we face once and for all.
"As you are already aware, the North Central Zone is the home of solid mineral deposits in Nigeria and the food basket of the country", he said.
Ganduje, in his response, thanked the forum for reposing confidence in him and President Bola Tinubu, whom he said was taking the right steps to make Nigeria great.
He said the Noth Central was an example of diversity in the country and assured that the APC-led federal government would ensure inclusiveness in governance.
He added that the federal government would explore the use of technology to address security challenges in the country.