Reps call for establishment of post-service housing scheme for ex-military personnel, widows

The House of Representatives on Thursday called for the establishment of a National Post-Service Housing Scheme for retired military personnel and widows of fallen officers across the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion on the “Need to provide residential housing estates for retired military personnel and widows of fallen officers across the federation,” sponsored by Hon. Hussain Jallo, who eulogised the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces in safeguarding the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and internal security of the nation.

While noting that military personnel are routinely exposed to hazardous and life-threatening assignments in the course of defending the nation and maintaining peace and stability, Hon. Jallo observed that a significant number of military personnel retire from active service without access to decent and affordable housing despite their years of dedicated service to the country. He added that widows and dependants of officers and men who lost their lives in active service are often left without adequate housing support, thereby worsening their social and economic vulnerability.

“The House is also aware that the provision of decent post-service housing is a critical component of military welfare and a practical demonstration of national appreciation for the sacrifices of members of the Armed Forces.

“The House observes that service-based housing agencies within the Armed Forces, such as the Post Service Housing Development Limited (PHDL) of the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force Housing and Construction Company Limited, the Nigerian Air Force Properties Limited, and the Navy Holdings Limited of the Nigerian Navy, as well as housing schemes operated by the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security institutions, have developed housing schemes in different parts of the country, thus demonstrating existing institutional capacity in security-sector housing delivery,” Hon. Jallo noted.

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He also observed that the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), by virtue of its statutory mandate and nationwide operational presence, is strategically positioned to coordinate, standardise, and scale up these efforts into a unified national post-service housing framework.

“Furthermore, several countries have institutionalised post-service housing schemes for military and security personnel as part of structured welfare and veterans’ support systems.”

He, however, noted that the absence of a coordinated and institutionalised post-service housing framework for retired military personnel and families of fallen officers undermines morale, weakens welfare structures, and exposes beneficiaries to avoidable hardship.

Hon. Jallo also noted that the continued neglect of widows and dependants of fallen officers may erode public confidence in the nation’s commitment to honouring the sacrifices of its Armed Forces.

To this end, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the Ministry of Defence to designate the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) as the lead agency for the implementation of the scheme, while leveraging the technical capacity of other existing service-based housing agencies and ensuring that a defined proportion of housing units under the scheme is reserved for widows and dependants of military personnel who lost their lives in active service.

The House also mandated the joint committees on Defence, Housing, and Appropriations to interface with relevant stakeholders, including service housing agencies, to ensure adequate funding, implementation, and sustainability of the scheme, and to report within four weeks for further legislative action.