Cabinet defers public service housing assistance policy to July 2022

The implementation of the  proposed Public Service Housing Assistance (PSHA) policy has been deferred to 1 st July 2022. 

This is pursuant to Cabinet Conclusion no. 2021/40/2 reached on Thursday last week,  16 December 2021. 

The Ministry of Public Service advises all Public servants in the country in a circular today. 

Further to this, Cabinet has also endorsed a maximum of 30% waiver of rental eligibility for those accommodated under the Public Service Rental Scheme (PSRS).

“Therefore, all public officers and employees who are currently residing in rented accommodation under the PSRS are hereby advised to notify your respective landlords and complete the required application forms to submit to your responsible officers for approval,” the circular stated. 

It said the Government Housing Division within the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey will receive and process applications for facilitation of rental agreements for the period from 1 st January to 30th June 2022.

“The existing Housing Allowance rates as per the General Orders shall continue to be paid to those officers who are residing in their own houses, until such a time the new PSHA policy is formally executed.

“Furthermore, officers who are interested in buying a house from the government purchased housing stock at Mamara Villas will have to delay their application until such time the new PSHA policy is formally executed,” the circular signed by the Supervising Permanent Secretary of Public Service, David Suirara, concludes.  

This is welcoming news to many public servants, giving them ample time to prepare  ahead for the new PSHA policy when it will be formally executed. Some of which have time to build their new home 

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service Nego Sisiolo told SIBC News last month that the reason for this new housing policy is for fairness to all public officers on the housing entitlement.

Another reason for the change in policy is fairness on housing assistance to all officers and leaning towards efficiency in the management of housing as one of the conditions of employment.

The Public Service Permanent Secretary said the Government modelled that this policy change will maintain current housing budgeted cost while ensuring all officers are given fair treatment on housing terms and conditions.

by Jared Koli