By Our Reporter
Federal Housing Authority, FHA, Saturday 13th, April, 2025 held a workshop on Adapting to Change: Exploring Challenging and Breakthroughs in Housing Development over the past year.
The workshop which is a follow up to the Retreat held July 2024 aimed at re – appraising what the Authority has been able to achieve within the past year, where the Authority is now and where it will be in the next one year.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive, Hon Oyetunde Ojo in his opening remarks and Programme Overview, noted that the programme was designed to be in – house to enable staff speak to themselves frankly and practically out of everyday work experience.
He noted that getting external facilitators to re – appraise the Authority over the past one year may not yield the desired result.
He therefore called on all participants to be free to ask any questions and make contributions they feel would be useful in advancing the cause of the Authority.
Hon Ojo used the opportunity to list out some of the achievements and improvements the current Executive Management have been able to achieve in their stay in office.
Such achievements as digitalization of the Authority , improved internet services within the office, linking the Zonal offices for live time interaction.
The Managing Director also noted that his management has been able to give permanent appointments to adhoc staff who have worked and contributed to the growth of FHA as well as physically challenged persons that served in the Authority.
On welfare, the Chief Executive officer said that conducive working environment have been provided for staff. He pointed out the conversion of the newly built MD/CEO’s office complex to offices for staff, the renovation of offices and provision of working tools for staff.
Hon Ojo used the medium to implore members of the public to refrain from attacking and assaulting staff of the Authority or any FHA subsidiary while carrying out their lawful duties.
In his words, he said, …” I will rather resign if I don’t get justice for any of my assaulted staff”.
On the Authority’s current financial stability, he stated that management found It most repugnant that the Authority has been grossly short changed in the statutory fees it charged. According to him,” the EMC found it ridiculous that contactors dictate what happened in the Authority.
“My management refused this and after due deliberations and consultations decided to adequately place our charges to where is currently. ”
The Managing Director noted that revenue does not come to meet you, rather you go out to meet revenue. Consequently, he said that was what has made him to lead revenue drive and enforcements to enable management to meet her finacial obligations.
The increase in the revenue base he said results in regular payment of salaries, quick implementation of the minimum wage, quick payment of all remunerations.
These are factors he said are motivators of staff for effectiveness and excellence.
Hon Ojo also pointed out that for the first time in many years, FHA under him participated on the Federal Civil Service games, and will continue to participate. He also announced that FHA football team has registered for the 2025 Abuja Amateur league.
The Managing Director also announced that the Authority has lined some projects for commissioning. Some of such projects are the 59 shops Gwarinpa Shopping Mall, 100 units of houses in FHA Estate Ajoda, Ibadan, Oyo State as well as the Lugbe Shopping complex.
He also said that the contractors in Bwari project site Abuja have been paid, and that the Authority is in the process of sand filling and reclaiming its land in Festac Town Lagos.
Finally, the Managing Director announced that the Authority’s Research and Innovation department has become functional and would among other things carry out integrity test for FHA and clients from outside.
The 3 day Workshop drew participants and speakers from Federal Housing Authority and the subsidiaries; FHA Mortgage Bank Ltd FHAMB and FHA Energy Distribution Company Limited.
