Reps query N3b quarters for Fed Govt’s officials

THE House of Representatives has criticised the Federal Government’s plan to build 40 houses for top officials of the Presidency at a cost of N3 billion.

It queried the government’s monetisation policy, saying the programme may  have been jettisoned without due process.

The policy, introduced during  former President Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration,  monitised housing and car incentives to civil servants.

The Herman Hembe-led Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was, however, shocked when it was told the Presidency was planning to build 40 houses for  its top officials at a cost of N3 billion this year.

The committee, during the 2016/2017 budget session with the Ministry of FCT,  queried the change of policy.The lawmakers asked for the identities of the beneficiaries, wondering whether they were lower government functionaries that deserved to be living in rented houses. Hembe said: “When government comes up with a policy, it should follow it up. When you begin to build houses for ministers, permanent secretaries and directors, are they above the members of the National Assembly?

“If you want to move for monetisation, it should be complete. I think it was wrong to sell the houses in the first place.

“This kind of thing may be very difficult to pass on the floor of the House. You can’t push for building houses for them. I remember at some point, they even wanted to sell the Vice President’s house”.

FCT Permanent Secretary Babatope Ajakaiye, who stood in for the minister, Mohammed Bello,  said government felt the monetisatuon policy was due for review.

Saying the governments around the world cannot do away with accommodation of its own, some of which were designated as safe houses, Ajakaiye said the government felt the monetisation policy might not have served its purpose.

“We have not started it; it is a new project. I still want to plead for understanding on this issue. The issue has been discussed last year and we’re still talking about it. The policy was introduced by government, but after sometime, there was this feeling that it should be reviewed.