Affordable Housing Policy for the Low-Income Civil Servants in Jos City, Nigeria

Abstract

Affordable housing for the low-income earners has remained a key challenge globally, more so in the developing countries. Nigeria, for instance, has encountered hurdles in the provision of affordable housing for the low and middle-income earners in the public sector. This is partly attributed to the fact that Nigeria is the most densely populated and most populous country in Africa. The policies to address the (socio-cultural, economic, political, technological and environmental) concerns on low-income housing provision need the active role of policy makers in providing guidance on efficient housing delivery for this income group. This is in line with Nigeria’s Vision 2030 in addressing affordability issues for the low-income households in the country. This study evaluates the affordable housing policy for low-income civil servants in Jos City, Nigeria. The study adopted a mixed methods research design, where both qualitative and quantitative research strategies were used. Data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. The study identified inappropriate policy framework as one of the greatest challenge towards housing development. Government policies on housing were found to have a significant influence on affordable housing delivery for the low-income civil servants in Nigeria. The study recommends that policy measures to improve efficient housing provision in Nigeria focus on reducing construction costs, providing land/infrastructure, and adoption of alternative materials and technology in building.