By Anita John 
ZARIA, Nigeria (EdubaseNG) – Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) has secured approval from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to finance 500 housing units for its staff under the National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme, Vice-Chancellor Adamu Ahmed said on Sunday.
The project, with plans to expand to 1,000 units, is part of a broader push to improve staff welfare, Ahmed told the university’s 85th Congregation meeting in Zaria. He added that a separate site-and-services scheme for staff would begin in the coming months.
“Staff welfare will not be treated as an afterthought. The issue of staff retiring without housing is being addressed strategically,” the VC said.
The Vice-Chancellor said the university has also tackled other concerns, including non-payment of hazard allowances to non-teaching staff, delays in salary entitlements, and challenges in promotion guidelines. A joint management-union committee has been set up to press the government for tax reliefs under what he described as an “unfavourable” tax regime.
He noted that ABU has been unable to recruit replacements for about 1,000 staff lost to retirement in the past five years but said clearance from the Budget Office to ease the constraint was at its final stage.
“The university can only grow if its staff are motivated, fairly treated and intellectually engaged,” Ahmed said, thanking unions for their cooperation in ongoing reforms.
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