The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr Shuaib Belgore, has assured the ministry’s staff of improved welfare and called for greater commitment to deliver the presidential and ministerial mandates of providing affordable housing for Nigerians.
Dr Belgore, speaking during his interactive meeting with the ministry’s staff, said the purpose of the meeting was to understand staff’s concerns and address them accordingly.
He stated, “I am a workaholic, but I am encouraged because everyone here wants to work. The problem is job satisfaction and happiness at work. I assure you I will do everything to make your work and life easier.”
Regarding transportation difficulties, he informed the staff of the ministry’s plan to procure new buses and, in the interim, directed the Director of Human Resources Management to move two buses from the Lagos field office to the headquarters in Abuja to augment the existing fleet.
”We’ve looked into the bus issue, and most of the buses have broken down. That is why new buses are being added to the fleet. We’re hopeful these will bring some respite. On sports, funds had been sourced and released to enable participation in the ongoing sports tournament in Adamawa State.”
Regarding working tools, Dr Belgore hinted that the procurement process for computers, laptops, desktops, printers, and scanners has commenced, emphasising that with the right tools, staff can perform optimally from any location.
He disclosed that the ministry’s manpower challenge would soon be addressed, as we are working to secure final approval for the recruitment of new officers to boost the workforce, which has significantly reduced due to the progressive retirement of staff from the Federal Civil Service.
”Upon assumption of duty, we observed a drastic reduction in staff strength, necessitating the recruitment of new personnel. We have written to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, and the President, for special approval for recruitment due to our peculiar operational structure,” he explained.
Regarding work ethics, he noted that staff’s commitment and positive attitude motivate him to work harder, stressing that the major gaps are job satisfaction and workplace happiness, issues he pledged to address.
He appealed for continued patience, dedication, and trust from staff as management works to improve conditions and clear the backlog of outstanding liabilities as soon as it’s practicable.
The permanent secretary directed the union leaders to engage with the Directors of Human Resource, Finance and Accounts, and Reform Coordination & Service Improvement to harmonise their demands and present a unified resolution for his action.
Earlier, the Director of Human Resources Management, Ademola Ayodele, commended the permanent secretary for his exemplary leadership and commitment to creating an enabling environment for optimal staff performance.
He reaffirmed the management’s commitment to staff welfare through open communication, dialogue, and continuous engagement.
Also, the Chairman of the Staff Union, Dr Frank Ejiofor, also commended the permanent secretary for convening the meeting and stressed the need for continuous motivation, support, and welfare enhancement to boost productivity amid current economic realities.
He emphasised the importance of regular dialogue and improved staff remuneration to cushion prevailing hardships, saying that staff are going through difficult times with high cost of transportation and prolonged delay in the settlement of outstanding liabilities.
“We are suffering and crying in silence, and yet we are committed to giving our best for the ministry to deliver on its mandates with the necessary motivation and support of the management,” he remarked.
