I will miss Housing Authority and I look forward to the organisation moving to the next level in realising our Constitutional mandate of the Right to accessible and adequate housing and sanitation.

These were the words of former Housing Authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alipate Naiorosui on the eve of his departure from the organisation he has diligently served 21 years for; 11 of which has been at the helm as its CEO.

“The organisation is on a strong footing now with the new direction focusing on land and housing development,” Mr Naiorosui said.

“While I am sad that I am leaving I am happy as well because the organisation that I have contributed to its development is on a solid foundation, with a strong Board and staff.

“There is a good mix of old and experienced staff with young ones and I am confident that they will take us forward.

“Despite leaving, housing and Housing Authority will always be very close to my heart,” he said.

Board Director, Mr Umariji Musa said Mr Naiorosui’s contributions have been nothing less than, invaluable and immeasurable. He briefly mentioned one of Mr Naiorosui’s many achievements:

“…his tireless efforts in trying to ensure affordable housing, paid off, when the right to accessible and adequate housing and sanitation became entrenched in the 2013 Constitution,” Mr Musa explained.

The work, Mr Musa said, started with the drawing up of a National Housing Policy of which Mr Naiorosui played a pivotal role that was launched by the Ministry of Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment in 2011.

The policy document provided a direction for all stakeholders and outlined the key outcomes in dealing with informal settlements, village housing, encouraging house construction and ownership.

Mr Musa encouraged the staff to quicken the pace of the work that Mr Naisorosui had started.

“Just because Mr Naiorosui is leaving Housing Authority, it does not mean that work he has started should come to a standstill. Rather the momentum must hasten. We must be proud that we had a chance to work with this great man, and if anything let us all put our backs into it and lift the organisation to a higher notch. This I know will be our greatest gift to him,” Mr Musa said.

Monday, 30th June 2014 marked Mr Naiorosui’s final day as Housing Authority’s Chief Executive Officer. He was overwhelmed with the reception he received in the last two weeks as each of the five divisions; CEO, Customer Relations, Lending, Land & Housing Development, and Finance and Administration; threw fitting farewells for him.

Mr Naisorosui joined Housing Authority as a cadet in 1994 before being promoted to Manager Finance and later became General Manager Finance and Administration. In 2003 he became one of the youngest CEO at the age of 39 years.

Housing Authority General Manager Lending, Mr Jagdish Prasad is now Acting CEO until a new one is appointed.