Delta Assembly flays housing policy as government approves new projects

Amid the challenges posed by shortage of residential accommodation for civil servants, the Delta State Assembly has critcised the lack of an effective and efficient housing policy for civil servants in the state.

The Chairman, Committee for Housing, Mrs. Orezi Esievo who spoke in Asaba, however promised that her committee would address the hindrances militating against the progress of the ongoing state government housing project in Issele-Azagba Housing Estate, and called for the siting of the housing units in ideal location, devoid of political consideration to save cost.

Mrs. Esievo explained that the committee would work assiduously to encourage cordial working relationship between the state’s Ministries of Justice, and Housing to produce a new housing policy.

She expressed surprise over the absence of a workable housing policy in the Housing Ministry by the Commissioner, Joseph Ogeh, an architect.

She said that the discovery of the State’s Housing Property in London, Ibadan, Kaduna and Kwara including the problem of housing units in the state, would be seriously tackle soon.

Esievo assured Deltans of the state government’s preparedness to construct more housing units across the state, especially the building of 1, 000 housing units in next two years.

Ogeh had last week noted the impact of non-existence of a functional housing policy to the growth and development of the housing section of economy in the state over the years.

He disclosed that the state government was working round the clock for the effective construction of a new secretariat, capable of housing the 28 state government agencies, currently operating in private housing units.

The Commissioner observed that the state government’s partnership with the Africa Development Bank (ADB) would enhance the progress of the housing units, adding that the state’s collaboration with shelter Afrique for the construction of 1, 000 housing units would soon yield positive result.

Meanwhile, the Delta State Government has approved the construction of the proposed Teachers’ Professional Development Centre (TPDC) and road projects in the state.

This was part of the approvals made by the State Executive Council during its meeting held in Asaba.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, disclosed in Asaba yesterday that the approval was a fall-out of one of the resolutions of the two-day Education Summit organised by the State Government in October 2015.

Mr. Ukah explained that the institute will help to retool, upgrade, train and retrain teachers to meet extant and future challenges

According to the commissioner, the institute will also provide conducive venue for the training of all strata of personnel in the state and can be used for retreats and policy crafting sessions in addition to hosting strategic meetings as the state government may deem fit.