A human Rights Activist in Kogi State, Idris Miliki Abdul, has called on the state Government to build affordable houses to be given to workers on owner occupier basis towards improving their standard of living
Miliki who is the Executive Director, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), stated this recently while interacting with journalists in Lokoja the state capital.
Comrade Miliki who lamented that Kogi state played host to two giant cement companies, however regrettably that the present administration was yet to take advantage of the companies to build houses for its citizens, saying that even the creation of the new Ministry of Housing Development, does not the situation
“Kogi state government has not build and commission houses despite the presence of Dangote cement and Mangal cement both located in Kogi west.
“The government can go into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the cement companies to build infrastructure that will improve the welfare of workers and other citizens in the state.
“When Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo created the ministry of housing, people were happy thinking that more estate houses will be built for workers, but after more than a year in office no single house was build . This is worrisome and condemnable in a state that play host to two cement companies.
“If previous administrations can built government house, built Otokiti housing estate, built 200 and 500 housing units, built Aniebo quarters, built legislative quarters, built workers village among others. I see no reason why the present administration is foot dragging to do the same in the interest of the citizens.
While commend the governor for the prompt Payment of emoluments, he noted that payment of salary alone is not enough to improve the welfare of workers. “When civil servants own houses through owner occupier basis it gives workers rest of mind and also improve their well being
Comrade Miliki therefore called on the governor to “make hay while the sun shines” by utilizing the presence of the two giant cement companies in the state to change the narratives in the housing sector.
Also speaking on the issue of housing deficit in Kogi state , the chairperson Kogi Accountability Platform (KAP) Hamza Aliyu lamented that if government refused to build houses for workers the effort in paying salary regularly would be in vain as much of the salary would be used to pay high rents in Lokoja the state capital.
He therefore called on Governor Ododo to be proactive in attending to workers’ welfare that includes transportation, food, water, healthcare and housing.