Housing Ministry to launch state Task Teams for property audits

The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has announced plans to establish Task Teams across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to audit the ministry’s properties and lands and ensure proper collection of ground rent.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, disclosed this during an interactive session with Federal Controllers of Housing from all states, held at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

According to Belgore, the Task Teams will include state controllers, representatives from the state and Federal Housing Authority, and will be chaired by the Surveyor-General of the Federation.

The teams will be tasked with conducting field audits and ensuring professional oversight for quality and efficient property management.

Dr. Belgore pledged to provide the necessary resources for the teams to carry out their assignments effectively.

“A portion of the revenue will be retained for fieldwork and evaluation to ensure there are no excuses for not executing tasks correctly,” he assured.

He emphasized the importance of teamwork, regular field supervision, and open communication to keep the headquarters updated on state-level activities.

“The ministry’s effectiveness depends significantly on the collaboration and dedication of its state housing controllers,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of hands-on experience, Belgore stressed that project management is best learned through active engagement at project sites rather than office work.

He added that Federal Controllers would play a critical role in training and mentoring new officers as part of the ministry’s capacity-building initiatives.

Belgore also acknowledged the ministry’s human resource challenges, noting that many officers are nearing retirement. To address this, the ministry plans to engage experienced professionals and implement training programs to sustain operational effectiveness.

During the session, the Federal Controllers requested the renewal of contracts for facility managers in the states to prevent vandalism of government projects by miscreants.

Earlier, the Director of Human Resources at the ministry, Akinola Adeshina, noted that the meeting was convened at Belgore’s behest to foster synergy between the headquarters and the Federal Controllers.

The engagement reflects a proactive approach by the ministry to address operational challenges and enhance efficiency at both federal and state levels.