Nigeria Emerges Chair of UN-HABITAT Executive Board …. We would accomplish the mission - Gwarzo Nigeria has emerged the chair of the executive board of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) The confirmation of Nigeria as chair of the board was made known during a meeting with the UN-Habitat office and the Ministry of Housing  and Urban Development in Abuja., Thursday,  April 4, 2024. The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo has on behalf of the Nigerian Government and the Housing Ministry accepted the position, assuring that Nigeria would accomplish the mission. Gwarzo lauded the UN-Habitat and the African Group for the confidence reposed in Nigeria’s quality leadership caused by her continuous commitment and exemplary role in the implementation of the African Urban Agenda (AUA) and the 2030 Agenda in the continent, assuring Nigeria’s commitment towards the achievement of the mandate of UN-Habitat. The Minister was delighted to aknowledge a notable milestone achieved in the human settlement sector in Nigeria since the establishment of the UN-Habitat Program support office in 2003, saying that it was the result of the robust collaboration between the UN-Habitat and the Federal Government of Nigeria. Accordingly, Gwarzo reiterated the commitment of the Ministry to execute its primary mandate of providing affordable housing in a secure, healthy and decent environment of both urban and rural areas for Nigerians, saying that the partnership with the UN-Habitat would ensure achieving the maximum results. The Minister also revealed the intention of the Ministry of housing to actualize its mandate through multi-stakeholder and institutional engagements as well as effective collaborations.  “ In this wise, UN-Habitat remains a critical partner. We therefore seek more of UN-Habitat's collaboration in realizing this vision and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda vision for housing and urban development in Nigeria, aimed at improving the living conditions of Nigerians through Urban Renewal and the development of New Towns”  he stated  Im the same vain,  Gwarzo further expressed hope that the continuous funding support for the UN-Habitat Programme Support Office (UN-HAPSO) in Nigeria would further strengthen the existing cordial relationship between the two parties and as well reposition the office to adequately play its role of rendering technical support services to Housing and Urban Development sector stakeholders in the country both at the National and sub-national levels. “We equally look forward to early commencement and successful implementation of the Work-plan of the extant MoU which is geared towards a more robust human settlements development in the country"  he added. Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the UN-Habitat delegation, Mathias Spaliviero felicitated with the Minister for the  appointment of Nigeria as the chair of the executive board of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and formally presented the appointment letter to the Minister of State. Spaliviero explained that the executive board is a board that comprises 40-50 member states, saddled with taking decisions, accessing UN-Habitat progress according to the strategic plan, as well as making recommendations. Spaliviero disclosed that UN-Habitat provided technical support for the National Urban Development policy and also expressed commitment to further support until the policy is approved. He used the opportunity to invite the Honorable Minister to the World Urban Forum to take place in Cairo between the 4th and 8th of November, 2024. ...

Ogunbiyi Inaugurates Housing Ministry's Core Management Team for PMS Implementation  Permanent Secretary, Federal  Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Marcus Ogunbiyi  PhD has inaugurated the core management team for the implementation of Performance Management System (PMS) in the ministry.  Members of the Core  Management Team were drawn from the departments of the Planning Research and Statistics (PSR) and the Human Resource Management (HRM) of the Ministry. In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary explained "the PRS department would focus on the Ministerial aspect of the PMS, while the HRM department on the other hand would focus on the employee aspect”   He also explained that the aim of setting up the core team was to monitor the compliance level of the PMS at the Ministry and ensure its smooth implementation service-wide, pointing out that any of their  actions would directly affect the running of the PMS in the Housing Ministry Accordingly, Ogunbiyi charged the core team to be dedicated and committed to the work ahead of them, while calling on the various departments of the Ministry to support the implementation in order to achieve success  Accordingly, Dr Ogunbiyi explained plans to narrow out the Ministry’s sector plan for the next couple of years, from the National Plan which would be gotten from the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, adding that the plan would aid the PRS department to cascade and develop the Ministry’s deliverable and Key Performance Indicators (KPI).  He further explained that the PRS department would in turn send the deliverables and KPI’s to the HRM department who would in turn send to the departments to extract the employees PMS. Some of the responsibilities of the core teams according to Ogunbiyi include; to facilitate and implement the PMS in the Ministry, oversee the implementation of the Ministry’s plans and objectives, review the Ministry’s quarterly sector performance throughout the entire process of institutionalizing PMS in the Ministry, communicate to departments their departmental targets. Other functions include training of supervisors, review of agreed performance contract, management of employee performance contract, among others. ...

Permanent Secretary Inaugurates Ministerial Servicom Committee  …charges them with commitment and accountability in their performance  The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi PhD has charged the newly inaugurated Ministerial Servicom Unit (MSU) to stay committed to the course of the mandate of the Ministry by exhibiting efficiency and integrity in the course of executing their assignments. The Permanent Secretary gave this charge at the sensitization, inauguration and induction ceremony of the Ministerial Servicom Unit (MSU), held in Abuja. Explaining the concept of Servicom as service acceptable to the citizens and the right of every Nigerian to obtain quality service from service providers, the Permanent Secretary informed that the committee was established in order to promote effective and efficient service delivery, as well as to ensure customer satisfaction in MDA’s. “We as service providers are change agents for service excellence and so should put up actions that reflects the name; this means that everyone who comes to our offices for service is expected to walk out satisfied and fulfilled, he explained. Ogunbiyi urged the committee to maintain a high level of comportment in representing the Ministry and also to acquaint themselves with knowledge of the Servicom core values to guide them to achieve customer satisfaction and project the good image of the Ministry. Accordingly, the Permanent Secretary encouraged the inductees to discharge their duties effectively with every sense of responsibility and in accordance with the law, bearing in mind that it is the right of the customer to always obtain quality service. He further pledged that the Ministry would provide the enabling environment and the needed support for the committee, as well as a conducive environment for customers.  Speaking earlier, the the National Coordinator Servicom Office, Mrs. Nnenna Akajemili described Servicom as a unique administrative committment designed to honour government's pledge to serve the people of Nigeria satisfactorily, adding that Servicom focuses on the quality of contact between the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and her stakeholders as well as  intending home owners.   She noted that the inauguration of the Ministerial Servicom Unit of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development would  enhance the service delivery initiative of the Federal Government with respect to the provision of affordable housing for Nigerians. Akajemeli, emphasising the impact of Ministerial Servicom Unit in the housing ministry, identified the unit's  responsibilities  amongst others to include; "spearheading the ministry's service improvement program in accordance with best practices, producing and reviewing Service Charters for the ministry and its diverse service front lines, monitoring its implementation by reporting quarterly on the impact of service delivery activities in the ministry and  providing comprehensive and effective training policy for frontline staff. While charging newly inductees to be diligent in their assignments and ensure prompt submission of reports to the Honorable Minister and Permanent Secretary's offices, She revealed that the committee would institute a reward system to appreciate and celebrate officers who have distinguished in their line of duty.    Akajemili also applauded the Permanent Secretary for ensuring the inauguration took place in within shortest possible time after unbundling the ministry from its Works counterpart. The Permanent Secretary was also awarded and decorated as the champion of Servicom in FMHUD by the National Coordinator of Servicom.   ...