FG commences construction of mass housing units for workers

The Federal Government on Tuesday officially commenced the construction of 100,000 mass housing units for workers across the country.

According to the government, the houses will be for workers in all states of the federation, adding that it was collaborating with the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress on the project.

President Goodluck Jonathan said this while performing the ground-breaking of the project in Abuja on Thursday.

He said, “Under this scheme, our plan is to build 100,000 housing units across the country, which will provide so many families where to stay. As we commence this project today, I promise that our administration will not waver on our commitment to transform our country.

“And in doing that, we will we make sure that the counterpart infrastructural development of the mass housing is accorded top priority. So, I call on the entire Nigerian working class to continue to serve as partners in progress with the government and be social partners with their employers through the NLC and TUC.”

The President said the government was partnering with the civil service unions by providing houses, adding that it was also collaborating with private sector players through the mortgage refinancing scheme to build affordable homes.

Jonathan said, “In terms of providing houses for workers and Nigerians, we are approaching this from three main prongs. For the one we are seeing today, the government is partnering directly with the major labour unions, the NLC and the TUC.

“This is because in order to achieve higher productivity, which is a necessity for inclusive growth and development, workers’ welfare must be given serious consideration and attention. And this should include providing every Nigerian worker with an affordable shelter, which is a topmost priority in our transformation agenda.”

This item originally appeared in Punch news