Abuja: The Federal Government has announced its decision to integrate judicial officers and court personnel into its ongoing housing interventions across the nation. The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, disclosed this in a statement released by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr. Badamasi Haiba.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the announcement was made during a courtesy visit by the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), retired Justice Babatunde Adejumo (OFR), to the minister. Darma assured the visiting delegation that the judiciary would be actively involved in the federal government’s housing projects being implemented across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Darma highlighted the ministry’s commitment to tackling Nigeria’s substantial housing deficit, estimated at approximately 15 million units. He noted that although bridging this gap is a significant national challenge, it is achievable through dedicated efforts, strategic partnerships, and collective action. He emphasized that judicial officers and court personnel would be integral to the government’s housing interventions and expressed confidence in overcoming the hurdles ahead.
The minister outlined that the housing initiatives are designed with a comprehensive national perspective, addressing various locations and governmental levels, including states and local government areas. He stressed the importance of partnerships and institutional collaborations to advance the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda.
Justice Adejumo praised the ministry’s initiatives to address the housing deficit and expressed optimism about the proposed collaboration, particularly in areas of human capacity development, training, and institutional support. He mentioned the NJI’s available resources, such as conference facilities, which could be utilized for relevant training programs.
Adejumo further stated that the NJI is responsible for training, capacity building, and ongoing education for judicial officers and court personnel. He underscored the importance of the collaboration in enhancing institutional cooperation, capacity building, and professional development without compromising the judiciary’s independence and constitutional duties.
He appealed to the minister for consideration in housing allocations for the judiciary, stressing the housing needs of judicial officers and court personnel. Adejumo reaffirmed the institute’s willingness to collaborate with the ministry in lawful ways that contribute to the success of its programs and create opportunities for sharing expertise and developing capacity-building initiatives relevant to housing policy implementation.
The proposed collaboration is anticipated to fortify institutional cooperation between the ministry and the NJI, aligning with the federal government’s housing agenda.