Housing, a performance index and welfarism in Nigeria. Bayelsa state in focus – By;Ofoni WILLIAMS.

Unequivocally, housing means same thing worldwide and plays essential role to humanity or mankind universally.

Thus, according to Hon Ofoni D WILLIAMS ” Housing is the most external clothing of mankind that protect, shelter, resting place on daily basis that is life sustaining ”

Therefore, for housing to be life sustaining, housing shall meet certain conditions that is sum up to mean decent housing.

In the above light therefore, housing comes to mean. A procedural process and product structured to meet environmental conditions, sanitary, social economy, accessible, affordable, etc dwelling for mankind in a manner that it elicit sustainace of life.

Hence, housing remains and assumes a critical index of evaluating the degree of welfare from government to her citizenry. Because housing is the second most important need of mankind acknowledged universally.

Housing goes to indicate the social status of citizens and standard of living of individual’s in any given society, be it in rural or urban settings.

It therefore call to bear that citizens are sheltered in decent accommodation or house.

On this note, base on it importance and critical role housing plays or mean to mankind.

The issue of housing must be taken seriously or given the desired place in life sustainace.

This account or explain why governments all over initiate housing policy. Even when housing is to be provided by individual’s for their respective households.

It had to meet the policy framework in place and into achieving decent housing.

Interestingly and importantly to note that housing policy goes beyond mere statements on paper by government or rhetorics on forums and platforms.

To this end housing policy remains a vital tool that is used in providing decent housing and town planning.

Town planning is a constitute index to decent housing. This in itself focuses on spatial arrangement of urban and land uses for the purpose of eliciting orderly ness, economical functionality, efficiency and aesthetically, pleasant physical environment for living, working, recreation and circulation.

Arising from the importance , critical nature and role of housing in the life of mankind. Housing policy becomes and assumes a body of laws, regulation and administrative practices that facilitate the provision or production and delivery of decent housing.

At this juncture, few housing policies in Nigeria attributes are noted.
All housing policies all over the globe are centred to elicit life sustainace, And as such, housing policies is as old as any given nation.

In Nigeria housing policy is related or viewed in line to her historical development..
colonial (before independence), post independence 1960 to 79, 1979 to 83, second civilian regime , 1984 to 99 military era, and 1999 till date. Usually referred to as post military era.

The main attributes of colonial housing policy is concentrated in the provision of staff quarters for foreigners, indigenous staffs of parastals and organisations was the target.

The era equally witness relevant inputs such as the creation of urban council in the year 1946, the lagos executive board come to being in 1954, witness the formation of building society in 1955, moreso, enactment of regional housing corporation barely before independence in 1959.

The post independence housing policy seen along time frame based. Thus, 1962 to 68 housing policy is said to be the first national housing policy ,while 1970 to 74 is referred to as the second national housing policy which brought to bear national council on housing in 1971.

This era witness certain improvement in housing delivery. But not radical impact or revolutionized housing production, provision and delivery.

National development plan of 1975 to 80 usually referred to the third housing development plan impacted housing programmes, polices and delivery in Nigeria.

The era was the military era of General Yakubu Gowon and decree was the order of the day.

Decree number 7 of 1977 ushered the transformation of the Nigeria building society into federal mortgage bank of Nigeria.

Land use decree (LUD) of 1978 was also promulgated to guarantee access to land by all Nigeria. This paved way for stabilized ownership and acquisition of land in Nigeria.

However, the land use decree is said to be a bane in certain quarters or sphere.

In 1979, the constitution of federal Republic of Nigeria emphasizes the place of local building materials, labour and construction industry. Likewise the employee housing scheme Decree number 54 of 1979 was promulgated which strengthened provision for staff housing and estate.

1980 to 90’s remains the continuation of military era and promulgation of Decrees.

This era witness sharp division in housing within the rural and urban centres. To this effect rural areas were neglected compared to the urban areas in terms of housing status and stocks.

Rapid urbanization occurs in the history of Nigeria, which led to housing shortage in urban centres.

The era equally ushered Decree number 53 of 1989 that institutionalized mortgage to facilitate, promote specific objectives of the national housing policy.

This was the days of General IBRAHIM Babangida, who’s economy liberalisation policy gave birth to private participation in housing delivery in Nigeria.

In the same vein, Decree number 88 of 1992, Decree number 3 1992 for urban, regional planning and National housing funds respectively come to being.

However, National housing fund (NHF) was primary in place to address and ensure continuous flow of funds for housing construction and delivery. But to what degree is a worthy question that awaits answer.

While, in the year 2000, policy of housing for all was promulgated. It was critical to revolutionized housing provision and delivery in Nigeria.

Moreso, in the year 2002. Housing and urban development policy was formulated to address in adequacy of land use act and allow for ownership of land to operate in a free market economy.

Upon this long trek of history of housing policy in Nigeria. The housing sector is not yet free from problems ranging from poverty, high cost of building materials, financial instruments, high rate of rural to urban drift, cost of land.

It’s estimated that three billion people are dear need for housing by the year 2030 according to United nations, which represent 40% of the world’s population.

To this effect 96,000 housing units are required every day .

In the same vein, one hundred million people are said to be homeless worldwide and one in every four lives in an harmful condition in terms of health, safety, etc.

Based on it (housing) prime role, 30 countries frowned at forceful eviction through the support of United nations organisation habitat in partnership with the United Nations of high commissioner for human rights.

The world population is estimated to had been eight billion two years ago. (2022)

And 70% is said to live in urban centres. One billion plus said to live in slumps in cities and many cities are not prepared to meet the housing needs.

Hence, slumps are fast becoming regular features of urban centres or cities. Giving rise to urban sprawl, air pollution, ungovernable spaces, etc.

However, inadequate development remains a bane.
In equalities and urban poverty, all other factors put together impact the environment, occasion vulnerability to climate change cum natural disasters .

Interestingly, potable housing is highly related to access employment, education, health and social services.

It therefore behold all level of government to see housing as a centre piece or agenda cardinal to man survival.

More particularly, in moderating slumps. The cost is relatively minimal compared with benefit for doing the needful and just to note.

Transport systems via proper streeting had far reaching effect on the economy and security.

It’s important to note that despite the numerous housing policy had not impacted or achieved our collective desire.

Housing development required to be tilled by many discipline or stakeholders.

In this quest therefore, housing requires proper articulation, to meet the housing needs via broad guidelines, goals, objectives and strategies for housing in Nigeria which should be home grown and driven by the people.

In Bayelsa state, there seems to be no housing policy to drive home it importance and role to or on mankind.

Generally, Bayelsa state government’s had not fair well in housing provision, production and delivery to her citizenry.

However, upon this poor outing recorded in housing sector, there’s a steady decline in production and delivery of housing in the state.

Late Chief DSP Alameyesiagha and Chief Goodluck Jonathan tenure is better than the rest regimes and governments.

While Chief Timpre Sylva tenure of five years is far better than the thirteen years of the restoration and prosperity government’s put together.

The above statement firstly, is justified by the capital budget provision for housing in the Last thirteen years.

The sums upon being mere tentative estimate, are grossly inadequate to Express seriousness of a government in terms of the place of housing to mankind.

Hence, the instrument of housing as a measuring index of performance and welfare to citizenry scores government relatively too low to Express empathy and welfare of Bayelsans.

A close look at the budgetary provisions is therefore necessary.

In 2012 the entire ministry of land and housing was allocated just one billion five Hundred million naira only.

2013 the Bayelsa state housing and property development authority had Forty nine million only.

2014 seven Hundred million naira only while in 2015 1.03 billion for housing development.

In 2016, the entire capital expenditure for the ministry was put at one billion two Hundred million naira only.

2017 ….766 million naira, 2018 …..766 million naira, 2019….900 million naira only.

The eight years of the restoration pdp led government of Senator Dickson Seriake , monies allocated for housing reads six billion eight hundred million eighty one Hundred thousand naira only.

Hence, the state witness barely twenty plus judges official quarters.

A demonstration of pre independence housing policy of 1946 adopted by the restoration government led by Senator Dickson Seriake .

The prosperity government led Senator Duoye Diri, seems to be suffering from Senator Dickson Seriake hangover.

As Senator Duoye Diri barely remodelled the judges official quarters and commissioned same.

However, state legislators and commissioners quarters are on going. Funny enough the quarters might not out lived annual flooding.

The houses in question are built below the height of the existing road.

One wonders, the manner of engineer’s present and overseeing the project concerned.

In all of these, the prosperity government of Senator Duoye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa state is exhibiting same colonial mentality in housing policy.

Whereas, the most comprehensive housing policy in Nigeria..National housing fund of 1991 is not reference in the scheme of housing in Bayelsa state.

Come to think of Act 3 of 1992 housing policy policy which established the NHF, section 2 of the Act outlined the aims and objectives of the fund. Section 20, 21,22 defines the offences and penalties for non compliance.

However, section 3 of the Act is amended to bring it in line with new realities aimed at strengthening the NHF which provide for all Nigerians above age 18 years, in public or private sector of the economy. By contributing 2.5 % of their income.

Irrespective of the above, the scheme had not fair well because of the devastated effect of inflation on the contributions.

Government had not lived up to required expectations. Hence, the dear need of decent housing is a far cry putting into consideration Bayelsa state environment and flooding predicament yearly.

On same page, unnecessary administrative bottlenecks and bureaucracy are bane to National housing fund impactation.

Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa state had equally not performed well in the housing sector for obvious reasons.

Going by the five years budget provisions, it seems to deny Bayelsans the desire welfare from government via housing and it place on mankind.

It’s on record that the housing budget provisions for capital expenditure sum total for five is less than 3 billion.

There is seemingly no known housing project completed by Senator Duoye Diri led government in Bayelsa state five years running.

It’s on the above existing poor record in housing that have strengthened Bayelsans and alike to question on the rational behind building a state secretariat .

Whereas, Bayelsans are suffering from housing deficiencies, to the tune of three hundred thousand of four in one block of two bedroom houses.

Therefore, the whopping sum of 45 billion naira for state secretariat would have reduced the housing boarding and high rents associated with Bayelsa state capital (Yenagoa).

The executive council resolutions of late 134 to 140 had send strong signal of misplaced priority, mismanagement in relationship to our commonwealth and the place of need assessment in government and governance.

The drought of basic necessities of life ranging from absence of potable drinking water, productive energy, housing, health and environmental issues are enough reasons for government to have a rethink of certain decisions on behalf of her citizens.

It’s not in all circumstances that laws are required. However, with the development in place in Bayelsa state. One is forced to recommend that the state Assembly enact law to address this huge deficiency recorded in housing.

Infact, the failure of any Governor to do the needful, the act or law should criminalise the occupant of the office, for denying citizens their human rights.

In this case, every tenure or four years. The state should record minimum of two thousand housing units of two bedrooms houses to be spread across the local government council areas.

As it stands Senator Duoye Diri had opportunity to redeem herself in the next three years.

Comments

comments