The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in Nigeria has pledged to include judicial officers and court personnel in its housing initiatives nationwide.
This comes as the Ministry deepens collaboration with the National Judicial Institute to address Nigeria’s estimated 15 million-unit housing deficit.
Housing Minister, Dr Muttaqha Darma, made the commitment when he received the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Babatunde Adejumo, during a courtesy visit to his office.
Darma welcomed the proposed collaboration and assured the NJI delegation that the Judiciary would be carried along in the implementation of the Nigerian Government’s ongoing housing programmes.
He said the Ministry was working to reduce Nigeria’s housing deficit, which he estimated at 15 million units.
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Darma described closing the gap as a major national responsibility requiring sustained commitment and cooperation.
“No matter how big and large the task ahead is, it is possible to bridge the gap,” Darma said.
The Minister said the Judiciary would be included in housing projects being implemented across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He stressed that judicial officers and court personnel would not be excluded from the Nigerian Government’s housing interventions.
Darma said the Ministry was implementing its housing initiatives with a broad national outlook and that the programmes cover different locations and levels of government, including states and local government areas.
He explained that the Ministry recognised the importance of decent and affordable housing for Nigerians. It would therefore continue to pursue partnerships capable of advancing the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda.
Darma also commended the NJI leadership for its concern about the welfare of its personnel and its efforts to improve their living conditions.
He said the Institute’s interest in participating in the wider national development agenda demonstrated responsible institutional leadership.
Earlier, Justice Adejumo commended the Ministry for its efforts to address Nigeria’s housing deficit.
He expressed the NJI’s readiness to collaborate with the Ministry on the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda.
“The proposed partnership would focus particularly on human capacity development, training and institutional support,” he said.
Adejumo noted that the NJI has conference facilities and other resources that could support relevant training programmes.
“The National Judicial Institute is saddled with the responsibility of providing training, capacity building and continuing education for judicial officers and court personnel,” he said.
Adejumo said the proposed collaboration would strengthen institutional cooperation between the two organisations.
Capacity Building
He noted that it could support capacity building, knowledge sharing and professional development linked to housing policies and programmes.
The NJI Administrator stressed that any partnership would operate lawfully and would not compromise the independence, integrity or constitutional responsibilities of the Judiciary.
“The Institute is willing to collaborate with the Ministry in whatever legitimate and lawful manner that could contribute to the success of its programmes,” he stated.
He also appealed to the Minister to consider the Judiciary when allocating houses under Government housing interventions.
Adejumo said judicial officers and court personnel also have housing needs that should form part of broader government interventions.
He further said the partnership could enable both institutions to share expertise and develop capacity-building programmes relevant to housing policy implementation.
