The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has retired more than 1,600 staff in the past 18 months, leaving it significantly understaffed and creating critical skill gaps across its departments and state field offices.
Permanent Secretary, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, disclosed this during the flag-off of the Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis (PASGA) Project in Abuja. He noted that the shortage of professionals has made project supervision increasingly difficult for the Ministry.
Belgore explained that the initiative is part of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 25), led by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. The audit, he said, aims to update personnel records, identify capacity gaps, and improve workforce planning and reform efforts across the civil service.
Highlighting the Ministry’s mandate to provide affordable housing for Nigerians, Belgore commended staff for their dedication despite the constraints. “The lack of professionals makes supervision cumbersome for the few available officers, often requiring deployment from headquarters for state-level inspections,” he said.
He urged the team of consultants to conduct a thorough verification exercise and present detailed findings on the Ministry’s strengths and needs across all offices. According to him, the exercise will play a key role in shaping human resource development for the next generation of public servants.
Earlier, the CEO of Georgid Consulting, Mr. Isaac Idontenyi, emphasized the importance of an effective verification process to reposition the Federal Civil Service for improved efficiency and national growth. He announced that physical verification would begin Monday, covering data collection, performance management, leadership development, succession planning, training, recruitment, and placement.
Idontenyi added that technology tools would be used to ensure accurate data capture and comprehensive coverage nationwide.
Acting Director of Human Resource Management, Ayodele Ademola, described the exercise as a major step toward strengthening institutional capacity and aligning human resources with the Ministry’s renewed vision. He reaffirmed the Head of Service’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and excellence in public service.
