Shelter is one of the three basic necessities of life. It is in recognizing this reality that, our constitution in section (16) subsection (2d) states: “The state shall direct its policy towards ensuring--that suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate food, reasonable national minimum living wage, old age care and pensions, and unemployment, sick benefits and welfare of the disabled are provided for all citizens”
Shelter is one of the three basic necessities of life. It is in recognizing this reality that, our constitution in section (16) subsection (2d) states: “The state shall direct its policy towards ensuring--that suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate food, reasonable national minimum living wage, old age care and pensions, and unemployment, sick benefits and welfare of the disabled are provided for all citizens”
However, it was in keeping faith with his oath of office that President Good Luck Jonathan recently ordered for the construction of one million housing units annually in the country so as sure up the shortfalls in the nation’s housing sector. It is however on records that, the current administration inherited a housing deficit of about 16 million which past authorities in the country made little or no efforts in addressing. The lackadaisical attitude shown to one of the most important needs of man in the past, contributed to factors that have made millions of Nigerians to become hobos in their own fatherland. So, it is understandable why some cynical Nigerians expressed doubts over the workability of such Presidential order. Some even said that it is part of the grand plan to make the President look more appealing to the broad spectrum of the society ahead of his rumored plan to seek re-election in 2015 Presidential Election!
It is unfortunate that Nigeria is a country where one soiled finger affects others. If not so, how can we relate the hallowing experience of Nigerians who wanders around with little or no place to call their home to a presidential election that is still far away in 2015? Ordinarily, I would have paid a sealed lip to the melting pot of cynics which some Nigerians are currently embroil in, but because there is a call that is above all calls, which is the call of conscience, I have decided to pen down my thoughts on the subject matter above.
The Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing has the plan of building mass housing projects for artisans, medium and low-income earners and other category of Nigerians. To achieve this, the Federal Government must partner with both the state governments and local governments in the country, because the Land Use Acts of 1978 only recognizes two rights of occupancies which are; Statutory Right of Occupancy and Customary Right of Occupancy. While the Statutory Right of Occupancy is under the control of the state government or governor who holds the land in trust for the people, the Customary Right of Occupancy is under the control of the local government. As of now, we have 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory FCT, and we have 774 Local Governments in the country.
Now, if we truly feel the pains of the homeless Nigerians as we vaingloriously claim on the pages of newspapers, radio and television stations, we will drop politics aside and work for the realization of the president’s targets. For goodness sake, what is one million housing units per year? If leaders at the various levels of governments across the country should be more interested in walking the walk than talking the talks, the combination of the 36 States plus FCT and the 774 Local Governments in Nigeria is 811. And if you divide the one million housing targets by 811, you get 1,233 housing units per year. With about 17 million housing deficits in Nigeria, it means within 17 years, the housing problems currently faced by Nigerians would have been conquered!
Nonetheless, if the governors will not use their influence on the various States Assemblies to block the plan by the Constitution Review Committee
(CRC) to remove the Land Use Acts from the constitution, it will also help in the speedy administration of land matters in Nigeria, thereby encouraging private investors to come in to the housing sector because it has been established that, apart from agriculture, which is the highest employer of labour, the housing sector is the second largest employer of labour force. When this happens, we can imagine how the burgeoning rate of unemployment could in the country would be drastically reduced.
Therefore, the ball is rolling on the courts of our leaders, and am happy that, the major opposition parties in the country have one or two states under their control. So, any party that plays politics with the all important directive from the President will have no accusing finger to point in 2015 general elections, because Nigerians can no longer be swayed by mere rhetoric.
Comrade Edwin Ekene is the National President of Young Nigerians for Change.
No.29, Ben Mbamalu Crescent, Achara Layout, Enugu State.
[email protected]
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of SaharaReporters
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