Kaduna Workers Engage Mortgage Bank To Buy Govt Houses
BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Kaduna State chapters have approached the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to secure loans for its members following the planned sales of state owned quarters to the highest bidders.
Addressing newsmen on Tuesday at the venue where most civil servants gathered for necessary documentation with the FMBN, the NLC State Chairman, Comrade Adamu Ango, said most of their members cannot afford to pay for the quarters, which informed the Congress’ decision to approach the bank to secure loans for them.
He said, as contributors to the National Housing Funds (NHF), the loan and repayment modalities had been worked out such that the houses would be paid for by the bank and deductions will be effected accordingly through the civil servants’salaries within the agreed terms.
Ango further clarified that for those on the verge of retirement, agreed amount will be deducted from their gratuities while modalities on how to effect balance payment will also be agreed upon.
On his part, the TUC State Chairman, Comrade Shehu Mohammed, corroborated the position of Labour, adding that all processes towards accessing the loan have been completed.
Mohammed said the need to engage the bank on behalf of its members became imperative to avoid any form of crisis in the state.
He commended the state government for giving the occupants of the houses first right of refusal, just as he disclosed that since the amount pegged on the houses by the state government was not known, the Union will take advantage of the market value to effect payment as a way of preventing outsiders bidding for the houses.
Some of the would be beneficiaries of the loan commended NLC/TUC for the gesture, adding that it was a major motivating factor and a step in the right direction.
