Housing Sector Has 78 Housing Related Jobs; Key To Solving Youth Unemployment – Al-Amin

The housing sector presents great opportunities for the realization of the youth employment objectives of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, Managing Director of the Authority, Professor Mohammed Al-Amin has said. Professor Al-Amin made this known in Abuja while receiving the Exemplary Leadership of Excellence Award conferred on him by the Arewa Youth Parliament.

He said the sector had about 78 housing related jobs that could take many of the nation’s unemployed youths off the streets. Al-Amin lamented the current shortage of artisans in the various fields of the housing industry which he said had led to the continued importation of skilled personnel from neighbouring countries to take jobs that should be carried out by Nigerian youths.

He said the government would soon commence the implementation of its housing programme and advised the youths to acquire the relevant skills to make them employable in the sector.

He said at the event held at the Authority’s headquarters in Abuja that the reform document prepared for the organization, rather than strengthen it for better performance had risked the Authority’s mandate especially that of social housing.

Al Amin said his Management team which came into office 12 months ago had succeeded in putting the FHA in the right direction and had effected a structural re-alignment of its operational system in line with international best practices and good corporate governance. Al-Amin said measures were also introduced to block leakages, check corruption and ensure financial prudence.

He said the workforce had been re-organized in line with the principles of service efficiency and improved productivity while computer automation in documentation and record keeping of the Authority’s assets was also introduced.

Al-Amin added that the principles guiding partnerships and contracted projects were also reviewed to ensure that the Authority got the best of every deal. In the course of its 12 months in office, he said the present Management uncovered consent revenues worth N2 billion which were yet to be collected and paid to the government.

He thanked the Arewa Youth Parliament for considering him worthy of the honour but pointed out that he had a standing policy not to receive gifts, honours and awards during his tenure. Instead of awards, Al-Amin said what he needed most were the prayers of well meaning individuals and groups for success in his assignment.

He said he was persuaded to receive the award because of his love for youths and appreciation of their special place as the building blocks of the nation’s glorious future.

Earlier in his address, the Speaker, Arewa Youth Parliament, Dr Bashir Muhammad Maru said his group was presenting the award to Al-Amin in appreciation of his efforts over the past year to bridge the nation’s housing deficit.

He praised the FHA for its timely intervention in the on-going efforts to rebuild the communities in the North East destroyed by the insurgency and resettle the internally displaced persons (IDPs) back in their homes.

Maru said Al-Amin was a role model and beacon of hope to youths in the country and urged him to continue to promote the best values in public service.

—ThisDay