OCCUPATION OF GOVERNMENT QUARTERS
SECTION 1 - GENERAL
SECTION 2 – OFFCERS HOLDING SENIOR POSTS
SECTION 3 – OFFICERS HOLDING JUNIOR POSTS
SECTION 1- GENERAL
COMPULSORY OCCUPATION OF GOVERNMENT QUARTERS
Certain Postings Necessitate Occupation of Specific Quarters
12101 - If an officer's duties necessitate his being available at any hour of the day or night he may be required to live in specified Government quarters in the vicinity of his place of work.
No Compulsion to Occupy Government Quarters
12102 - Except as provided in the preceding Rule no officer shall be compelled to occupy Government quarters if he prefers to make other arrangement for his accommodation.
Government Housing Scheme Participant not to be Given Preference
12103 - An officer whose place of work is within 20 km of a house in respect of which he has been granted assistance under any Government housing scheme will not be given preference in the allocation of Government quarters. This Rule does not apply to officers who occupy quarters by virtue of Rule 12101.
Condition Attached to Occupation of Government Quarters. Payment of Rent
12104 - It shall be a condition on which an officer is provided with Government quarters that he pays rent thereof by deduction from salary in accordance with the rent rules specified in Rule 12205.
Subletting Prohibited
12105 - It shall be a condition on which an officer is provided with Government quarters that he does not sub-let any part thereof or use quarters to take in a lodger or paying guest. An officer who fails to Subletting comply with this Rule is guilty of gross misconduct.
Care of Quarters
12106 — An officer provided with Government quarters is responsible for maintaining in good order all articles of Government furniture included therein, and for the cleanliness of the quarters including the. compound and domestic servants' quarters, which he must inspect from time to time.
Alterations to Structure and Fixture Prohibited
12107 — An officer provided with Government quarters is prohibited from altering the structure or fixtures. If any alteration is desired application must be made to the appropriate authority responsible for the quarters which will arrange for the alteration if approved. Mosquito proofing and fixings must not be removed without the approval of the appropriate authority. The officer to whom the quarters has been allocated shall be held responsible for any /contravention of this Rule.
Removal of Furniture Prohibited
12108 — Government furniture in Government quarters belongs to the quarters to which it has/been issued and no articles of furniture may be interchanged between quarters (or between quarters and offices) without the prior sanction of the officer controlling the quarters.
Notice of Vacation
12109 — An officer provided with Government quarters must give at least forty-eight hours’ notice to the officer controlling the quarters of 'is intention to vacate the premises.
Taking Over and Handing Over
12110 — Government quarters must be taken over from, and handed over to, the authorized representative of the officer controlling the quarters. An incoming occupant must acknowledge receipt of the quarters and all articles of Government furniture therein by signing the furniture inventory and key register; an outgoing occupant must hand over the keys of the quarters he is vacating to the authorized representative of the officer controlling the quarters and remains responsible for the quarters and all articles of Government furniture therein until he obtains the signature of such authorized representative to the. furniture inventory and key register in acknowledgement of their surrender.
Responsibility for Deficiency and Damage
**12111 **— Unless an officer, at the time he takes over Government quarters, indemnifies himself by reporting any deficiency or damage the officer controlling the quarters, it will be assumed that he received the quarters and all articles or furniture belonging thereto in good condition and he will be liable for the cost of making good any deficiency, damage or neglect discovered at the time he hands over the quarters.
ELECTRICITY AND WATER CHARGES
Responsibility for Payment
12112 — Unless exempted by special conditions of service an officer provided with Government quarters is required to pay all electricity 3nd water charges raised thereon in respect of the period during which he retains the use thereon. Accounts for these charges must be settled promptly.
Responsibility for Notifying, Electricity and Water` Authorities
12113 — On taking over Government quarters an officer must immediately notify the fact to the authority (or authorities) locally responsible for making electricity and water charges. At least forty-eight hours before surrendering the quarters he must notify the same authority (or authorities) of his intention to surrender them; otherwise, he will be responsible for any charges accruing up to such time as the meters are read.
Vacation of Quarters on Resignation, Transfer, Retirement or Dismissal
12114 — (1) No officer shall continue to occupy Government quarters after the date on which his resignation takes effect or beyond 3 months from the date on which he starts his retirement or from the date he finally leaves the service from any other cause. Any extension beyond 3 months will be on written approval of the Heat of Service. An officer shall cease to occupy Government quarters with effect from the date of his dismissal.
(ii) An officer may not continue to occupy quarters in one station beyond the date when he takes up occupation of quarters in another his Permanent Station, except with permission in writing by Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Department. In event of the officer's death, his spouse shall not continue to occupy the quarters beyond three months after his death except with the permission of the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Department in writing.
Ejection from Quarters
(iii) If occupation of quarters continues beyond the period specified in this Rule, the occupants would be ejected.
SECTION 2 — OFFICERS HOLDING SENIOR POSTS: RENT RULES
Retention of Government Quarters During Vacation Leave
12201 — An officer is entitled to retain the use of Government quarters Airing his vocation leave unless he is expected to resume duty at a -Efferent station. The officer is then expected to vacate his quarters within one month of starting his leave.
Exemption of Officer Occupying Certain Quarters
12202 — No rent is payable by an officer if the sole accommodation with which he is provided by Government is: Exemption
- quarters in a vessel;
- a railway coach or compartment;
- a tent;
- a temporary shelter or building not intended for permanent occupation such as a "bush" house or but erected in connection with a special and/or temporary duty;
- a canoe;
- a caravan.
Sharing Quarters
12203 — An officer staying with another officer in government quarters in his own station shall be deemed to be provided with Government quarters but without prejudice to his entitlement to separate quarters when available.
Rate of Rents
12204 — Officers provided with Government quarters are required to pay rent at the rate of 5% of basic salary. Such officers will be entitled to 15% of their rent subsidy only. For the purpose of this Rule, the salary of an officer includes basic salary, acting allowance and inducement addition where applicable.
Full Rent to be Deducted from Salary in First Instance
12205 - Except in respect of periods when, by virtue of Rule 12202, no rent is payable (in which case the circumstances must be explained and certified by or on behalf of the officers Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Department in the remarks column of the officer's monthly salary voucher, and no rent deduction will be made therefrom). Full rent shall, in the first instance, be deducted from the total of an officer's monthly salary from the date he first occupied Government quarters to the date immediately preceding that on which he officially hands over his quarters-both dates inclusive. The responsibility for claiming any rebate allowance under the following two Rules of the rent so deducted will then rest with the officer himself. Rebate claims should be made monthly on Treasury Form 166 duly supported by the appropriate certificates included in the form.
Rent – Rebate of 50 Percent
12206 - An officer shall be entitled to a rebate of 50 percent of the rent paid under Rule 12205, in respect of any period during which the sole accommodation with which he is provided by Government consists of:
- quarters shared with another officer, or with other officers with the prior permission of the officer responsible for allocating quarters in the station in which they are situated; or
- quarters whether temporary, semi-permanent or permanent, which do not provide at least two living rooms for the exclusive use of the officer (for this purpose a bedroom is classed as a living room); or
- unfurnished quarters, whether temporary, semi-permanent or permanent; or
- temporary quarters with or without furniture
Rent Rebate of 75 Percent
12207 - An officer shall be entitled to a rebate of 75 percent of the rent paid under Rule 12205 in respect of any period during which the sole accommodation with which is provided by Government consists of quarters of a type specified in Rule 12206 (b), (c) or (d) shared with another officer.
Rent Rebate of 100 Percent
12208 - An officer is entitled to 100 percent rebate on rent paid for any period during which he is not occupying Government quarters. An officer is regarded as occupying Government quarters until he has officially handed over his quarters.
Entitlement to Government Quarters
12209 - (i) The following officers are entitled to Government quarters:
- All Senior officers on GL. 07 and above;
- An officer appointed to duties which require him to be on "call duty" night and day;
(ii) Rent subsidy shall be paid to all officers except those occupying Government quarters. A female officer married to another Officer shall be entitled to draw rent subsidy.
When Quarters Cannot be Allocated
12210 - In order to assist officers on posting, transfer or on assumption of duty. on appointment at their new stations, when government quarters cannot be provided, such officers will be eligible for payment of an allowance for the first 28 days, in lieu of hotel accommodation at the following rates:
Permanent Secretary -- per diem N5,000.00
Officers on GL. 16-17 -- per diem N3,000.00
Officers on GL. 14-15 -- per diem N2,500.00
Officers on GL. 12-13 -- per diem N2,000.00
Officers on GL. 09-10 -- per diem N1,500.00
Officers on GL. 07-08 -- per diem N1,000.00
N/B: The above provisions amend all circulars on the matter.
SECTION 3 – OFFICERS HOLDING JUNIOR POSTS
Application
12301 - In this section the term "officer" refers to an officer holding a junior post.
Junior Officers Not Entitled to Government Quarters
12302 - As a general rule, junior officers on GL. 01 - 06 are not entitled to Government quarters.
Retention of Government Quarters During Vacation Leave
12303 – However, in exceptional circumstances when a junior officer Is allocated Government quarters, the officer shall be entitled to retain the use of Government quarters during his vacation leave unless he is expected to resume duty at a different station and the officer is then expected to vacate his quarters within one month of starting his leave.
Compulsory Occupants Exempted
12304 - No rent is payable by an officer, who, by the nature of his job is compelled to occupy specific Government quarters.
Period of Rent
12305 - Except as provided in the preceding Rule, rent is payable from the date on which an officer takes over Government quarters to the date immediately preceding that on which he officially hands over his quarters to the authorized representative of the officer controlling the quarters both dates inclusive.
Rates of Rent
12306 - An officer provided with quarters by the Government for which rent is payable shall pay 3% of his annual basic salary.