The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has announced the formation of task teams in each state to conduct audits of the Ministry’s properties and lands, as well as manage the collection of ground rent.
Dr Shuaib Belgore, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, disclosed this development on Friday after an interactive session with the Federal Controllers of Housing from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The session took place at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
The newly formed task teams will consist of the Federal Controller in each state, state government representatives, and officials from the Federal Housing Authority, with the Surveyor-General of the Federation serving as the Chairman. Belgore stressed that the initiative would improve oversight and efficiency in managing the Ministry’s assets.
“Field audits and professional oversight will ensure quality and efficiency,” Belgore stated, emphasising the importance of regular supervision and open communication between controllers to keep the Ministry updated on housing activities across states.
To support the task teams, Belgore confirmed that necessary resources would be provided, and a portion of the revenue from ground rent collection would be allocated for fieldwork and evaluation.
The Permanent Secretary also acknowledged the human resource challenges within the Ministry, particularly as many officers approach retirement.
He revealed plans to bring in experienced professionals and introduce training and mentoring programmes, with Federal Controllers playing a pivotal role in mentoring new officers.
During the meeting, the Federal Controllers raised concerns about the need for contract renewals for facility managers overseeing housing projects, warning that failure to do so could expose these sites to vandalism.
The session was convened to strengthen collaboration between the Ministry’s headquarters and its state-level offices.
