The Federal Steering Committee (FSC) for Sustainable Urban and Rural Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme, has reviewed, considered, and approved for implementation the Work plan for 2024.
This was after a comprehensive breakdown of the Work Plan for each of the States and the Federal Project Implementation Unit (FPIU) presented during the Committee’s meeting recently in Abuja.
SURWASH is a $700 million World Bank Supported Programme aimed at increasing access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services and to strengthen sector institutions in participating states in Nigeria.
Present at the meeting were representatives from the Honourable Ministers of Finance, Education, Health, and Women Affairs, as well as Honourable Commissioners from Ekiti, Delta, Plateau, Katsina, Gombe, and Imo States, the latter being represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Imo State Ministry of Water Resources.
Additional attendees included the representatives of the World Bank and various stakeholders.
Speaking, the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev stressed the need for collaborative efforts and funding for the SURWASH Programme among States to advance the objectives of the National Action Plan for the revitalization of the Country’s WASH Sector.
A statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan said, during the meeting, the Minister doubled as the Committee Chairman highlighted that the main focus of the 3rd FSC meeting was to undertake a critical review with a view to inject new ideas into the programme and approve the 2024 Work Plan for implementation.
He emphasized the crucial role of States in driving the programme by providing adequate funding and strengthening Water Institutions at the state level so as to leverage the opportunities the SURWASH programme presents.
The Minister stressed the importance of increased funding to accomplish the activities outlined in the work plan and encouraged the scaling up of activities to improve disbursements by the end of the 2024 Programme year, ultimately enhancing the programme’s rating.
He also stressed the significance of collaborative efforts between the Federal Government and the States to address the challenges facing the WASH sector and to ensure sustainable access to Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene Services across the country.
Prof. Utsev recalled that the SURWASH Programme, which is supported through the World Bank, serves as a strategic vehicle for actualizing the National Action Plan which emphasizes key areas such as governance, sustainability, Sanitation, funding and financing, and monitoring and evaluation, while also serving as Government’s strategy and vehicle for investment and Sector Reforms.
The Honourable Minister further highlighted the importance of proactive engagement and commitment from all stakeholders and emphasised that the SURWASH Programme was designed by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation in partnership with the World Bank, to support the implementation of the National WASH Action Plan (NAP) launched in November 2018.
He added that the improved funding by the States will enable the Stakeholders to achieve the activities that have been lined up for implementation in the year 2024 work plan, stating that there was a need for participating States to be proactive and committed to the goals of the programme.
Earlier, the Director of Water Supply and Support Services at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, who is also the Secretary of the Federal Steering Committee of the SURWASH, Dr. Dumebi Madu, welcomed members to the meeting and appealed for open and robust deliberations to facilitate impactful resolutions.
The FSC of the SURWASH is composed of: Hon. Minister, Federal Ministry of Water Resources (Chairman), Hon. Minister, Women Affairs, Hon. Minister, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hon. Minister, Ministry of Health, Hon. Minister, Ministry of Education, Hon. Minister of State, Ministry of Environment, Hon. Minister, Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Hon. Commissioner, Delta State MoWR, Hon. Commissioner, Ekiti Ministry of Infrastructure & Public Utilities (MIP&, Hon. Commissioner, Gombe State MoWR, Hon. Commissioner, Imo State Ministry of Power & Water Resources (MP8, Hon. Commissioner, Kaduna State Ministry of Public Work & Infrastructure (MPW&I), Hon. Commissioner, Katsina State Ministry of Water Resources, Hon. Commissioner, Plateau State Ministry of Water Resources and Energy, Programme Director, FMWR (Secretary).
