Ekiti Builds Capacity of LG Chairmen on Water and Sanitation Hygiene

 

 

 

Ekiti State Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities has organized a two-day stakeholders’ workshop for the Local Government Chairmen and Heads of Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH ) Department across the State.

 

Speaking while declaring open the workshop in Ado-Ekiti, the State Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Prof Mobolaji Aluko, stated that the training was aimed at investigating the current status of Government policies and to provide an approach that would improve access to water supply, sanitation and hygiene in the state.

 

Aluko noted that the stakeholders’ engagement would further enhance inclusiveness and full participation of WASH Department and all the Local Government Chairmen in the State towards strengthening existing frameworks, as well as identifying and addressing institutional gaps.

 

He noted that the forum would also review and validate Policy, Institutions and Regulation (PIR) plans and baseline assessment for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector in the State.

 

The Commissioner, who solicited the cooperation of the participants for a robust deliberation that would facilitate preparation of PIR plan for proper documentation and implementation in the state, stated that this would qualify Ekiti State as one of the participating States for incentives under Sustainable Urban Rural Water Supply Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) programme.

 

In his presentation, the leader of the consultancy team, Mr Alaba Ogunsajo highlighted the team’s recommendations to include funding of local government and ministry’s WASH Departments, prioritization of WASH Sector policy and institutional reform with emphasis on sanitation sector, capacity enhancement to drive urban water and sanitation, and the coordination of gender mainstreaming sector among others.

 

 Also speaking, the Permanent secretary of the Ministry, Engr Olumide Ajayi stressed the need for team work in actualizing the set goals on WASH since teaming up with stakeholders would help achieve the goals and take the sector to an enviable height.

Ajayi sought the cooperation of implementers and stakeholders towards achieving the desired results on Water supply and Sanitation in the State.

 

The SURWASH Programme Coordinator, Engr. Stephen Adetunji who stressed the need for the proper documentation of the PIR plan as a prerequisite for SURWASH programme, urged the participants to be active during the interactive session and make meaningful contributions to strengthen the institutions policy for documentation and implementation.

 

The Chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in the State, Engr. Olabode Adetunji, commended the State Government for organizing the stakeholders workshop which had led to an avenue for collaboration on how to improve access to water supply sanitation and hygiene in the State.

 

He pledged the commitment of the council chairmen to achieving the PIR plan to actualize the desired objectives of SURWASH Program in the state.