The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration to commence the process of issuance of Certificate of Occupancy to house owners in the Mass Housing Scheme Estate.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved by the lawmaker representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency, Katsina State, Sada Soli.
Leading the debate, Soli noted that legislative powers with regard to the Federal Capital Territory are vested in the National Assembly by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
He also described the FCTA as a government organ in Nigeria, headed by the minister who “shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as may be delegated to him from time to time by the President” in line with Section 302 of the nation’s constitution.
Soli said the House was aware that in a bid to provide adequate and affordable housing to contribute to bridging the housing gap in Nigeria, the FCT in 2000 initiated the “Mass Housing Scheme” project to provide affordable housing through a public-private partnership policy model.
He added that the Mass Housing Scheme initiated by successive FCT administrations had given rise to the development of smart estates in Abuja, thus, boosting its internally generated revenue in the last couple of years.
“The House recognises the importance of a Certificate of Occupancy to property owners as a question of legitimacy and compliance, safety and habitability, and tenant and owner protection.
“A Certificate of Occupancy is essential for landowners as it establishes the legitimacy and compliance of the property, verifies its safety and habitability, aids in securing insurance and financing, enhances property value and marketability, and provides protection for both the landlords and tenants”, he said.
Adopting the motion, the House noted that close to 3,000 housing estates in the FCT-issued C of O will significantly improve the fortune of the nation’s capital, particularly through IGR.
Consequently, the House mandated the Committee on FCT to liaise with the FCTA to investigate and resolve all the outstanding issues and report back within six weeks for further legislative action.
