Abuja: WaterAid Nigeria, in collaboration with civil society organisations (CSOs), has launched an initiative aimed at prioritising financing for the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector, which has been historically underfunded. The programme, which commenced on Monday, involves a two-day training on WASH Budget Analysis, Tools, and Skills held in Abuja. The initiative seeks to bridge critical funding gaps and advance progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG six, which aims for universal access to water and sanitation.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Theodora Igboaruka, Policy and Advocacy Manager of WaterAid Nigeria, highlighted the neglect of sanitation and hygiene despite their connection to other SDGs. She stressed the importance of creating evidence-based tools for advocacy to address these issues. The training is designed to equip CSOs with the necessary skills to analyse budget trends, assess the share of sanitation and hygiene in national budge
ts, and identify investment gaps.
Igboaruka further explained that the data collected during the training would serve as the foundation for advocacy, providing evidence to engage decision-makers and stakeholders in prioritising sanitation and hygiene financing. Collaboration, synergy, and amplified advocacy efforts are deemed crucial to ensure these issues gain the recognition they deserve for national development and global commitments.
Mr. Benson Attah, National Coordinator of the Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), highlighted challenges related to budget transparency and stakeholder engagement. He noted that while budgeting is crucial for planning and resource allocation, it often faces resistance, particularly from civil servants who perceive scrutiny and exposure during budget discussions as threatening.
Attah recounted an instance where an officer assigned to assist with budget tracking vanished, demonstrating the entrenched resistance to accountability within the system. He emphasized that w
ithout transparency, it becomes impossible to assess fund utilization or measure its impact, eroding trust and credibility in governance, especially in the water and sanitation sector.
He urged civil servants and stakeholders to view budgeting not as a punitive tool but as a mechanism to ensure efficiency, fairness, and impact. Attah expressed that this initiative is a step toward bridging the funding gap in the WASH sector and ensuring Nigeria stays on track to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
The News Agency of Nigeria also reported that participants, primarily NEWSAN members, received training on various skills, including budget trend analysis, tracking, monitoring, and evaluation, among others. Mr. Wale Elekolusi, National Coordinator of the WASH Media Network, spoke on the media’s role in promoting water and sanitation issues, calling for sustained collaboration and advocacy.