Abuja: The Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board (FGSHLB) has initiated the process of compiling a list of retired civil servants who have defaulted on their housing loan repayments. Mrs. Ngozi Obiechina, Head of Information and Public Relations at FGSHLB, conveyed that the board’s Executive Secretary, Mrs. Salamatu Ahmed, announced this move as part of efforts to reclaim mortgaged properties from retirees failing to meet their loan commitments.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mrs. Ahmed cited a recent memo from Mrs. Patience Oyekunle, Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), which reminded public servants about the mandatory requirement to obtain a Certificate of Non-Indebtedness to the FGSHLB and MDA Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society as a precondition for retirement. The Executive Secretary emphasized that the board plans to take necessary legal actions to repossess properties in accordance with the loan agreements.
Mrs. Ahmed highlighted that the initiative aligns with the Public Service Rules 021002 (p), which mandates all public servants to secure a Certificate of Non-Indebtedness before retirement. She noted, ‘The Federal Government will commence the seizure of mortgaged properties belonging to retiring federal public servants who have failed to fully repay housing loans obtained from the board.’
The FGSHLB holds the legal right to repossess any mortgaged property if a public servant exits service without fully repaying the loan. Mrs. Ahmed reiterated that the directive also applies to retired officers who remain indebted, urging them to regularize their loan status and obtain the necessary clearance certificate promptly.
Currently, the board is compiling a list of such retirees to forward to relevant regulatory agencies for debt recovery. Mrs. Ahmed concluded that the FGSHLB is steadfast in enforcing compliance and ensuring the proper loan recovery procedures are followed.
