Date: 2017-04-14

Kwara State government in partnership with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has approved N181 million for 318 civil servants in first batch of home renovation loan scheme.

Speaking during the presentation of cheques to 20 beneficiaries in the first batch in Ilorin on Thursday, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said the partnership with the bank in this regard was aimed at providing lasting solution to housing challenge among civil servants in the state.

The governor, who spoke through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold, said the scheme was achieved through sales of government quarters to occupant civil servants at subsidized rate.

He commended the FMBN for initiating the scheme and extending it to Kwara State civil servants, saying that it would go a long way to ensure civil servants live in suitable and comfortable homes.

The governor, who urged the beneficiaries to make best use of the opportunity and repay the loan on schedule to pave way for other beneficiaries, said the presentation was for the first batch of the scheme, adding that others would be accommodated in the second phase.

Also speaking, the state Head of Service, (HOS) Mrs Zarah Omar, who said the scheme was targeted at the "engine room of governance, the state civil servants", added that a comfortable home for a civil servant was sine qua non for comfortable living, leading to high productivity of such civil servant.

She commended the governor for his love for civil servants in the state with provision of conducive atmosphere for their welfare.

The HOS said the governor had provided financial assistance for sick civil servants, training and retraining, building of new Secretariat office complex, payment if salary, among others.