FG targets 20,000 affordable housing units in 2025

The Federal Government is targeting the construction of 20,000 affordable housing units nationwide, a flagship deliverable in 2025 under the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda, to stimulate job creation, improve livelihoods, and contribute to national economic growth.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, stated this at the Ministerial Retreat on the Performance Management System (PMS) and the official signing of the 2025 Performance Contracts for Directors and Heads of Units in Abuja.

Dangiwa highlighted some of the deliverables, including the development of Fiscal Incentives for the local production of Building Materials to reduce construction costs and promote self-reliance, as well as incentivise the local production of essential housing components such as cement, roofing materials, and sanitary fittings.

He said they are committed to leading a performance-driven Ministry that is focused on delivering real value to Nigerians, while describing the gathering as a strategic leadership forum, not just a routine administrative exercise, but also a renewed determination to deliver results.

The minister further stated that it was a crucial opportunity to align the Ministry’s leadership with its core mandate of translating policies into measurable outcomes, in line with the bold vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President, urging for full Implementation of a Results-Based Performance Management System.

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“The central role of the ministry in the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which envisions dignity, opportunity, prosperity, and decent shelter for all Nigerians, is that housing development, land reforms, urban planning, and regulatory innovation are essential instruments to achieve these goals,” he said.

Dangiwa, therefore, reaffirmed the importance of performance management in the current context of heightened public expectations and Presidential oversight, pointing out that the Performance Bond signed by all ministers was a binding commitment to the Nigerians to monitor the scorecards and dashboards developed by the Central Delivery Coordinating Unit (CDCU).

“Another deliverable is the expansion of the National Land Registration and Documentation Programme (NLRDP), in partnership with state governments, and the Ministry will intensify efforts to digitise land records and promote secure land tenure for investment,” he said.

Dangiwa also acknowledged the technical support of the Central Delivery Coordinating Unit (CDCU) and the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), for their roles in performance tracking and institutionalizing PMS across the civil service.

In his keynote address, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, said that the ministry is committed to institutionalising the Performance Management System (PMS) as a tool for accountability, transparency, and results-oriented governance.

He said, “The PMS is now a mandatory component of public service delivery, as enshrined in the 2021 Revised Public Service Rules. It is essential for driving institutional effectiveness, identifying capacity gaps, and ensuring every officer contributes meaningfully to the nation’s development goals.”

He explained that the retreat underscores their resolve to deepen institutional reforms and accelerate service delivery, and is also a crucial step in aligning the Ministry’s deliverables with the National Development Plan(2021-2025) and service-wide mandate from the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The permanent secretary recalled the success of the maiden retreat held in 2024, which led to the identification of key performance areas, as well as the signing of performance contracts across the Ministry, and commended the dedication of directors and department heads in fulfilling that mandate.

He, however, charged all directors to provide clear leadership, champion transparency, leverage digital tools, and use PMS outcomes to inform decisions on promotions, capacity building, and service delivery improvement.

On his part, Director of the Planning, Research and Statistics Department, Mukhtar Iliyasu, emphasised the critical importance of the retreat in aligning individual and departmental outputs with the Ministry’s strategic goals and the broader national development agenda.

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He noted that the ministry made significant strides in the 2024 performance cycle, citing the successful cascading of performance contracts from institutional to individual levels, the development and tracking of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), regular performance reviews, and the observance of PMS Day, all contributing to greater transparency and service delivery.

The PRS Director further said that non-compliance with PMS guidelines would result in sanctions, reinforcing the government’s shift towards accountability and results-based governance.

While calling for collective responsibility and active participation, he urged all attendees to embrace innovation, collaboration, and dedication as the Ministry charts the course for a more impactful 2025.

The retreat features strategic sessions on reviewing past performance, signing of 2025 Performance Contracts, and strengthening the implementation of the ministry’s deliverables, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government.