By Oyintutu Oyinkolade
The Federal Government says judicial officers and court personnel will be included in its ongoing housing interventions across the country.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, said this in a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr Badamasi Haiba, on Thursday in Abuja.
Darma said this when he received on a courtesy visit the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), retired Justice Babatunde Adejumo (OFR).
He assured the delegation that the judiciary would be carried along in the implementation of the federal government’s ongoing housing projects across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said the ministry was working tirelessly to address Nigeria’s housing deficit, estimated at about 15 million units.
He acknowledged that closing the gap remained a huge national responsibility, but said it was achievable through sustained commitment, effective partnerships, strategic planning and collective efforts.
”Judicial officers and court personnel will not be left out of the federal government’s housing interventions.
”No matter how big and large the task ahead is, it is possible to bridge the gap,” he said.
The minister said the ministry’s housing initiatives were being implemented with a broad national outlook, covering different locations and levels of government, including states and local government areas.
According to him, the ministry will continue to explore partnerships and institutional collaborations capable of supporting the achievement of the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda.
He commended the leadership of the NJI for its concern for the welfare of its personnel as well as efforts to improve their living conditions.
Earlier, Adejumo commended the ministry for its efforts toward addressing the nation’s housing deficit.
He said the proposed collaboration would focus particularly on human capacity development, training and institutional support.
He also said the institute had conference facilities and other resources that could be utilised for relevant training programmes.
”The NJI is saddled with the responsibility of providing training, capacity building and continuing education for judicial officers and court personnel,” he said.
He stressed that the proposed collaboration would strengthen institutional cooperation between the two organisations, while creating opportunities for capacity building, knowledge sharing and professional development.
The NJI administrator emphasised that any collaboration would be undertaken legitimately and in accordance with the law, without compromising the independence, integrity or constitutional responsibilities of the judiciary.
He appealed to the minister to give due consideration to the judiciary in the allocation of houses, noting that judicial officers and court personnel also had housing needs.
”The institute is willing to collaborate with the ministry in whatever legitimate and lawful manner that can contribute to the success of its programmes.
”The collaboration can also create opportunities for the two institutions to share expertise and develop capacity-building programmes relevant to the effective implementation of housing policies and programmes,” Adejumo said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the proposed collaboration is expected to strengthen institutional cooperation between the ministry and the NJI in support of the federal government housing agenda.(NAN)
Edited by Deborah Coker