Update your NHF Data now, FCTA Enjoins Staff, Retirees

By: Sunday Shekwonya

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has urged all its Staff including Retirees to update their data on Federal Housing Fund (NHF), so as to avoid loosing the contributions they made.

Accordingly, Act 3 of 1992 established the National Housing Fund (NHF) making it mandatory for all employees to contribute 2.5 percent of their monthly basic salaries. 

The Permanent Secretary of Treasury and Budget, FCTA, Adamu Ibrahim Wanki, made this call, while receiving the management team of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) that paid him a working visit in his office, Wednesday.

Wanki said that the call has become necessary to ensure that staffers in the services of the FCT Administration take advantage of the window provided and get maximum benefits accruing.

He reiterated that the administration has began orientation and sensitization exercise, which is targeted at all existing Staff and Retirees of the FCT Administration to update their NHF data or forfeit their contributions.

Wanki emphasized that the sensitization exercise is meant to educate and enlighten the staff and the retirees about the need to update their data, which he said would enhance the contributions processes, receiving alert as and when due and to pave way for accurate contributions to the contributors.

The Permanent Secretary advised staff and retirees to hurry up and do the needful by making the necessary and relevant information available as demanded on the online form provided to all staff and retirees so as to avoid payment complications with regards to NHF in future.

Wanki warned that, staff and retirees, who have received the information and decided to ignore it should have themselves to blame when the time comes; stressing that adequate sensitization with regards to this development is on-going, thus, staff must take this relevant information seriously to avoid unnecessary complaints when the exercise might have long been gone.

Also speaking during the visit, the Coordinating Director of Verification, NHF, Treasury and Budget, FCTA, Mr. Musa Lere, revealed that some staff that complied with the NHF data update directives earlier on, have started receiving the alert, which signifies that the effect of the update has taken place with immediate effect.

Lere charged all the staff and the retirees to do themselves good by updating their data; adding that the portal has a limited time of its availability and will soon be closed, where nobody would have access to it again.

The Director also revealed that it is not possible for staff to receive alert from NHF from now without updating their data which calls for proper documentation, easy accessibility of staff information and accurate contribution payment processes.

He used the opportunity to thank the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, and the entire Management of the FCT Administration for the massive support right from the time the exercise started.

Speaking earlier, the Zonal Manager of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Abuja zonal office, Mrs. Ene Nduka-Nwagbo, expressed satisfaction over tremendous support given to the management of FMBN by the FCT Administration right from inception; hinting that the massive support has assisted the organization to experience progress beyond measure.

She revealed that the aim of the visit by the team to the Permanent Secretary, Treasury and Budgeting, FCTA, is to inform the Administration on how far the data updating has been and to further inform the administration about the next plan by the FMBN, which is to begin the contribution schedule process’ for the staff and retirees.

The Zonal Manager pleaded with the Permanent Secretary to assist the management of FMBN by embarking on more sensitization to the staff and retirees through the Mass Media and other communication channels to ensure no beneficiary is left unaware of the the update information or the exercise.

Abuja Digest reports that the National Housing Fund (NHF) is a Federal Government scheme, which entitles all Nigerians above the age of 21years in paid employment to a low interest, government funded loan. Members of the scheme contribute 2.5% of their monthly salary to the fund through Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria. The maximum amount obtainable under the NHF used to be N5 million but has since been increased to N15 million. The borrowed capital is repayable over a maximum of 30 years at the rate of 6% interest.