Sen. Bukar Ibrahim, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, says the committee has proposed a bill on “social welfare scheme” for Nigerians to help alleviate poverty.
Ibrahim made this known on Friday in Abuja on occasion of the 4th Annual National Social Housing Scheme Forum organised by an NGO, Forum of Advocates for Social Housing.
He said the scheme would provide packages for the “low and no income earners” to help carter for their basic needs.
Ibrahim said the scheme would go a long way in addressing issues surrounding the basic needs of every Nigerian – food, clothing and shelter.
“As a developing country and for the country to meet the Millennium Development Goals, and Vision 20:2020, such a policy will be needed,” he said.
The committee chairman said he was optimistic that the National Assembly would pass the Social Housing Bill now before it, and “which is aimed at ensuring that Nigerians have access to affordable houses”.
Earlier, the Coordinator, Forum for Social Housing, Mr Nya-Etok Ezekiel, said the essence of the forum was to provide a sustainable way of reducing the housing deficit in the country.
“The social housing initiative provides a window of opportunity for government at all levels to demonstrate their commitment to the provision of social housing as a social responsibility to its citizens.
“We have proposed a social housing scheme to ensure a harmonious, equitable cohesive and vibrant society,” he said. (NAN)
