Performance of the National Housing Fund Scheme and Barriers to Mortgage Accessibility among Staff of Tertiary Institutions in South East Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the performance of the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme in delivering affordable housing to staff of tertiary institutions in South East Nigeria, with emphasis on the contributor-beneficiary gap and the factors constraining accessibility and utilisation of NHF funds. A quantitative survey design was adopted, and structured questionnaires were administered to 384 civil servants drawn from nine tertiary institutions in Anambra, Enugu and Imo States, selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, a paired-samples t-test, and multiple regression analysis. Results showed that although 93.2 percent of respondents were registered NHF contributors, only 1.3 percent had ever benefited from an NHF loan, a gap that was statistically significant (t(8) = 3.562, p = 0.007). Income level, loan procedures, and collateral requirements significantly predicted accessibility (R² = 0.349, p < 0.001). The study concludes that the NHF Scheme performs poorly even among a formally employed, statutorily-contributing population, and recommends streamlined loan processing, revised collateral requirements, and sustained awareness campaigns.