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The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to establish a National Post-Service Housing Scheme for retired military personnel and widows of fallen officers across the country and the Federal Capital Territory.
The House also called on the ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, to designate the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) as the lead agency for the implementation of the scheme, while leveraging the technical capacity of existing service-based housing agencies.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved during plenary on Thursday by Hon. Hussain Mohammed Jallo, who raised concern over the housing challenges faced by retired members of the Armed Forces and families of officers who died in active service.
Moving the motion, Jallo said many military personnel retire after years of service without access to decent and affordable housing, while widows and dependants of fallen officers are often left without adequate shelter, worsening their social and economic conditions.
He described the provision of post-service housing as a vital part of military welfare and a practical way for the nation to appreciate the sacrifices of members of the Armed Forces.
The lawmaker noted that several service-based housing agencies within the Armed Forces and other security institutions have successfully developed housing schemes in different parts of the country, indicating that there is already institutional capacity to deliver such projects.
He, however, expressed concern that the absence of a coordinated national framework for post-service housing for retired personnel and families of fallen officers weakens welfare structures, affects morale among serving officers and exposes beneficiaries to avoidable hardship.
Jallo warned that continued neglect of widows and dependants of fallen officers could erode public confidence in the country’s commitment to honouring the sacrifices of its Armed Forces.
Adopting the motion, the House mandated its Committees on Defence, Housing and Appropriations to interface with relevant stakeholders, including service housing agencies, to ensure adequate funding, proper implementation and sustainability of the proposed scheme.
The committees are expected to report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.
Reps urge Nigerian govt to establish housing scheme for retired soldiers, fallen officers’ family
