Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara Monday presented cheques totalling about N303.8 million to 463 beneficiaries of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria’s (FMBN) home renovation loan.
Dep. Gov. Kayode Alabi presented the cheques in Ilorin on behalf of the governor.
In a speech, the governor promised to continue to deploy available resources “to grab every opportunity to improve the wellbeing of civil servants and residents of the state”.
According to him, this event is another testimony of the resolve of this administration to take every opportunity to make our workers happy.
“We are ensuring that workers across all cadres enjoy their promotion and the pay rise that comes with it.
“We have also approved training and retraining for workers, while offering support to those of you pursuing further degrees at home or abroad,” he said.
AbdulRazaq promised to ensure a decent work environment with relevant tools through the completion of a secretariat, purchase of new vehicles and modern computers and accessories.
He further said that his administration would continue to support workers with health issues and ensure that salaries were paid as and when due.
He also said that the administration was considering other supportive measures for workers to ease the harsh effects of inflation.
The governor appealed to civil servants in the state to continue to support his administration’s determination toward building a sustainable future for the citizenry.
In a remark, the Head of Service, Ms Susan Oluwole, said government was doing everything possible to tap existing opportunities and resources from both governmental and non-governmental organisations for the benefit of the people.
Oluwole said the scheme was specially designed for contributors to the National Housing Fund (NHF) “to benefit from their contributions at lower interest rates.
“Through the committed efforts of government, FMBN approved the loan for all interested civil servants.
“I want to advise the beneficiaries of the first phase and those to benefit in subsequent batches to use the loan for the purpose it was meant.
“A comfortable home for a civil servant is no doubt a sine qua non for comfortable living, which ultimately will lead to high productivity,” he said.
Responding, the Managing Director of the bank, Mr Ahmed Dangiwa, said the bank disbursed about N303.8 million to the beneficiaries.
Dangiwa, represented by the Deputy General Manager, Mr Ibrahim Nafada, said the facility afforded contributors an opportunity “to access mortgage loans to renovate or improve their personal or family-owned house”.
He lauded the governor’s commitment and cooperation toward the prompt execution of the documents, which enabled the state civil servants to benefit from the loan.
Dangiwa announced that the bank had also approved over N401 million loan for 708 members of staff of the state Universal Basic Education.
He said the loan would be credited to individual beneficiaries’ accounts after execution of all other conditions, precedence to the disbursement.
