Ekiti State water policy draft

1. EKITI STATE GOVERNMENT
ILE IYI, ILE EYE
Water Supply and Sanitation Policy
Consultant: Client:
Rodeson Investment Co. Ltd. The Ekiti State Government
Shop No 11E Commercial Corridor, Office of the Special Adviser to Mr.
Oke – Ila Housing Estate, Governor
P. O. Box 339, on Infrastructure and Public Utilities,
Ado – Ekiti.. Governor’s Office, Ado – Ekiti,
Ekiti State.
March, 2012

2. Table of Contents
Abbreviations and Acronyms………………………………………………………………… 3
Preface…………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
Executive Summary…………………………………………………………………………… 5
1.0 SECTION ONE: INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………… 9
1.1 Overview of Water Supply and Sanitation Development in Nigeria……………... 11
1.2 National Water Policy and Legal Framework……………………………………… 11
1.3 Location and Climate………………………………………………………………… 12
1.4 Geology………………………………………………………………………………. 12
1.5 Hydrology and Hydrogeology………………………………………………………. 12
1.6 Water Sector Challenges in Ekiti State…………………………………………….. 13
1.6.1 Urban Water Supply…………………………………………………………………. 14
1.6.2 Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation………………………………………… 14
1.6.3 Rural Water Supply and Sanitation…………………………………………………. 15
1.6.4 Urban Sanitation……………………………………………………………………… 15
1.7 Definition of Terms……………………………………………………………………. 16
1.7.1 Access to water supply and sanitation facility……………………………………… 16
1.7.2 Integrated water resource management (IWRM)………………………………….. 17
2.0 SECTION TWO: PRESENT SITUATION, POLICY GOALS, OBJECTIVE AND
GUIDING PRINCIPLES……………………………………………………………… 20
2.1 Policy Goal…………………………………………………………………………….. 22
2.2 Policy Objective……………………………………………………………………….. 22
2.3 Policy Objective……………………………………………………………………….. 22
2.3.1 Water Supply…………………………………………………………………………… 22
2.3.2 Sanitation……………………………………………………………………………….. 23
2.4 Sanitation……………………………………………………………………………….. 23
2.4.1. Rural water supply…………………………………………………………………….. 23
2.4.2 Small towns water supply…………………………………………………………….. 23
2.4.3 Urban water supply……………………………………………………………………. 23
2.4.4 Rural Sanitation………………………………………………………………………… 24
2.4.5 Small Town Sanitation………………………………………………………………… 24
2.4.6 Urban Sanitation……………………………………………………………………….. 24
2.5 Policy Guiding Principles……………………………………………………………… 24
3.0 SECTION THREE: INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE, ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
3.1 Federal Ministry of Water Resources…………………………………………………. 28
3.2 Ekiti State Ministry of Water Resources/Directorate of Water Supply and
Sanitation Services……………………………………………………………………… 29
3.3 Water Corporation of Ekiti State……………………………………………………….. 30
3.4 Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (STOWASSA)………………… 31
3.5 Ekiti State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (EK-RUWASSA)………… 30
3.6 Ekiti State Community and Social Development Agency (EKCSDA)……….……. 31
3.7 Ekiti State Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Office…………………………. 31
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3. 3.7 LGA……………………………………………………………………………………….. 33
3.8 Communities Based Associations (Water Consumers Associations (WCA)
and Water Sanitation and Hygiene Committee (WASHCOM)………..……………. 33
3.9 Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organizations………………………………… 35
3.10 Other Relevant Ministries and Agencies to the Water and sanitation Sector…….. 35
SECTION FOUR: POLICY COMPONENTS AND POLICY STATEMENTS……………… 35
4.1 Access to Water Supply………………………………………………………………… 36
4.1.1 Policy Statement No.1:………………………………………………………………… 36
4.2 Demand-Responsive Approach (DRA)………………………………………………. 36
4.2.1 Policy Statement No.2:………………………………………………………………… 37
4.3 Pro-Poor Concept………………………………………………………………………. 37
4.3.1 Policy Statement No.3:………………………………………………………………… 37
4.4 Community Involvement………………………………………………………………. 38
4.4.1 Policy statement No.4:…………………………………………………………………. 38
4.5 Involvement of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)………………………………… 38
4.5.1 Policy Statement No.5:………………………………………………………………… 38
4.6 Private Sector Participation…………………………………………………………… 39
4.6.1 Policy Statement No.6:………………………………………………………………… 39
4.7 Demand Management…………………………………………………………………. 40
4.7.1 Policy Statement No.7:………………………………………………………………… 40
4.8 Operation and Maintenance…………………………………………………………… 40
4.8.1 Policy statement No.8:…………………………………………………………………. 41
4.9 System Design and Construction Standards………………………………………… 41
4.9.1 Policy Statement No. 9:………………………………………………………………… 41
4.10 Autonomy of Service Providers……………………………………………………….. 42
4.10.1 Policy Statement No. 10:………………………………………………………………. 42
4.11 The Role of Women and Gender Mainstreaming…………………………………… 42
4.11.1 Policy Statement No.11:……………………………………………………………….. 42
4.12 Human Resource Development……………………………………………………….. 43
4.12.1 Policy Statement No. 12:………………………………………………………………. 43
4.13 Data Gathering, Information Management, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation… 44
4.13.1 Policy Statement No. 13:………………………………………………………………. 44
4.14 Sector Coordination and Reforms…………………………………………………….. 44
4.14.1 Policy statement No. 14:………………………………………………………………. 44
4.15 Sanitation and Hygiene………………………………………………………………… 45
4.15.1 Definition of sanitation and hygiene terms…………………………………………… 45
4.15.2 Policy Statement No. 15:……………………………………………………………… 46
4.16 Technological Options for Sanitation…………………………………………………. 46
4.16.1 Policy statement No. 16:………………………………………………………………. 47
4.17 Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS)…………………………………………….. 47
4.17.1 Policy statement No. 17:……………………………………………………………….. 47
4.18 Environmental Pollution and Protection of Water Sources…………………………. 48
4.18.1 Policy statement No. 18:……………………………………………………………….. 48
5.0 LEGISLATIVE AND FUNDING IMPLICATIONS…………………………………… 51
5.1 Change Management Office………………………………………………………….. 51
5.2 Water Supply Regulatory Agency (WASRA)………………………………………… 51
5.3 Elements of Reform in the Policy……………………………………………………… 52
5.4 Manpower Development……………………………………………………………….. 52
5.5 Funding…………………………………………………………………………………… 52
5.6 Capital Projects………………………………………………………………………….. 53
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4. 5.6.1 Cost sharing for capital investment…………………………………………………… 53
5.7 Operating costs…………………………………………………………………………… 53
5.7.1 Cost distribution for operation and maintenance…………………………………….. 53
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5. ABBREVIATIONS & ACRONYMS
BIPU Bureau of Infrastructure and Public Utilities
CBA Community Based Association
CBO Community Based Organization
CSO Civil Society Organization
DFID Department for International Development
DWSS Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation
SEEDS State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy
EHC Environmental Health Club
EKSWC Ekiti State Water Corporation
ESWMA Ekiti State Waste Management Authority
FMWR Federal Ministry of Water Resources
FMAWR Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources
LGA Local Government Area
M&E Monitoring and Evaluation
MDA Ministry Department and Agency
MDG Millennium Development Goals
NEEDS National Economic Empowerment ands Development Strategy
NGO Non governmental Organization
O&M Operation and Maintenance
PSP Private Sector Participation
PPP Private Public Partnership
RUWASSA Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency
STOWASSA Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Agency
SEPA State Environmental Protection Agency
SLGP State and Local Government Programme
UN United Nations
UNDP United Nations Development Fund
UNICEF United Nations Children’s Educational Fund
VIP Ventilated improved Pit Latrine
VHP Volunteer Hygiene Promoters
WASRA Water Supply Regulatory Agency
WASH Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
WASHCOM Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Committee
WES Water and Environmental Sanitation
WCA Water Consumers Association
WHO World Health Organisation
WIMAG Water Investment Mobilization and Application Guidelines
WSAs Water Supply Associations
WSS Water Supply and Sanitation
WSSSRP Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme
WSPs Water Supply Providers
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6. PREFACE (to be written by the SA BIPU)
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7. EXECUTIVE SUMIMARY
This is the First proposal of the Ekiti State Water Supply and Sanitation policy which outlines
how the State Government hopes to develop the Water and Sanitation sector with the
support of Local Governments, communities, external support agencies, private sector and
non governmental organisations.
It represents the effort of the Ekiti State Government to address the challenge of a lack of a
water supply and sanitation sector specific policy which has resulted in lack of coordination
in the implementation of sectoral projects, weak institutional capacity, undefined roles for the
private sector, external support agencies, non state actors, and community organisations,
hence, poor water supply and sanitation service delivery.
The development of this policy was driven by local water supply and sanitation stakeholders,
including State and Local Government officials, community based organizations and non-
governmental organizations; whose inputs during separate meetings with them and two
other debriefing meetings at State level have been widely reflected.
The policy goal and objectives were developed based on the State Development Strategy
Plan (2011-2014) for water supply and sanitation. This was found to be in line with current
thinking and realities in social service delivery and coherent with the National Water Supply
and Sanitation Policy.
Policy Objective
The centre-piece of Ekiti State’s water supply and sanitation policy shall be the provision of
adequate potable water and safe sanitation facilities to all residents of the state through
participatory investment and management by all stakeholders with a view to guaranteeing
available, accessible, affordable, reliable and sustainable service delivery.
Water Supply Targets
• The initial target is to improve on water supply service coverage from the present
less than 40% to 60% by the year 2014.
• Extension of water supply service coverage to 80% of the population by the year
2016
• Extension of water supply service coverage to 100% of the state’s population in the
year 2020
• Sustain 100% full coverage of water supply for the growing population beyond the
year 2020
Sanitation Targets
• The initial target for sanitation service coverage is to improve on the present 32%
to 50% by 2014
• Extension of sanitation service coverage to 60% by 2016
• Extension of sanitation service coverage to 80% by 2018
• Extension of sanitation service coverage to 100% by 2020 and
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8. • Sustain 100% full coverage of sanitation services for the growing population beyond
the year 2020.
Consumption standards
To have an effective, affordable, consistent, achievable and sustainable water supply, it is
necessary to establish minimum standards of supply and also to enforce these standards.
These minimum standards relate to both quality of water and quantity provided. Therefore,
this policy seeks to meet minimum standards as set below:
Rural water supply
This policy guarantees minimum water supply standard of 30 litres per capita per day for
settlements with population less than 5,000.
Small towns water supply.
This policy guarantees minimum water supply standard of 60 litres per capita per day for
small towns with population of between 5,000 and 20,000.
Urban water supply
This policy guarantees minimum water supply standard of 80 litres per capita per day for
urban areas with population greater than 20,000 inhabitants.
Rural Sanitation
The minimum sanitation facility for rural communities shall be sanplat latrine with special
focus on CLTS championed by EK-RUWASSA in collaboration with the Department of
Environmental Health and Sanitation in the Ministry of Environment and Housing.
Small Town Sanitation
The minimum sanitation facility in a small town shall be sanplat latrine as determined and
designed by Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (STOWASSA).
Urban Sanitation
The minimum sanitation facility in an urban area shall be pour flush as determined and
designed by Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Agency in collaboration with the State
Environmental Protection Agency (EK-SEPA). The government should begin to think in the
direction of designating an area for sanitary landfills to take care of urban sewage and
sanitation. The area should have minimum clearance of about 5km radius from the
designated landfills where there shall be no drinking water sources.
Based on these targets and standards, the policy developed a number of principles that
guided the formulation of policy statements. In all, there are 30 policy guiding principles and
18 policy statements key among these:
1. Ekiti State Government recognizes that water is life and essential for human
existence and should therefore be accorded the highest priority it deserves.
2. The government recognizes that while water is a social good, it is as well an
economic and environmental good.
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9. 3. Government shall endeavour to see that every resident of the state access
potable water of at least 30 litres per day in the State.
4. Having recognized that water is a socio-economic and environmental good, all
users of water should therefore pay for water based on level of service provided.
This is with a view to at least recovering O&M cost, but a pro poor concept shall
be developed in setting appropriate tariffs.
5. The government shall continue to provide the majority of capital financing for
rehabilitation of existing systems and construction of new systems (including
expansion of systems).
6. The government shall continue to explore all opportunities for engaging
communities in management and O&M of water schemes through their local
community development associations for sustainability.
7. The government recognises that the private sector has a role to play in water
resources and sanitation development, and would create an enabling
environment for the participation of the private sector in the delivery of water
supply and sanitation services.
8. The government shall partner with CSOs and engage them in community
involvement in water supply and sanitation service delivery based on their
experience and prerequisite skills in community management processes
9. The government shall ensure that sustainability is incorporated into planning
process, and government funds shall not be invested in water systems unless
long term sustainability through a participatory approach is demonstrated.
10. The government shall ensure the protection of water sources from environmental
contamination and pollution essential for long term sustainable water supply
provision, through collaboration with the State Environmental Protection Agency
and the agencies involved in physical planning and development.
11. Government shall ensure that all water supply service providers in the State
produce potable water that meets the WHO and the Nigerian Standard for
Drinking Water Quality, while environmental health officers in the State ensure
that each household meets the minimum requirements for safe sanitation.
12. In the spirit of participatory democracy and gender mainstreaming, government
shall ensure that both women and men are adequately represented in all water
and sanitation decision making organs and processes at the state, local, and
community levels.
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10. 13. Reliable data collection, processing and storage are essential ingredients for
researching, planning and budgeting. Therefore, all water agencies of the State
shall have functional PRS Departments with Monitoring and Evaluation Units
equipped with adequate electronic software and systems with a view to making
data management the basis for planning and budgeting in the water and
sanitation sector.
14. The State Government shall embark on institutional reform, capacity building, and
creation of an enabling legal environment for effective implementation.
15. This policy shall be viewed as a long term objective and it may take long term to
implement all aspects of the policy.
Summary of Key Reforms in the Policy.
This policy will usher in an element of reform aimed at repositioning institutions, for improved
performance and meet the objective of the policy. These may require legal instruments. The
water supply and sanitation Law will make provisions for these reform elements. These
anticipated reform elements are listed below.
i. Establishmennt of Ministry of Water Resources or Directorate of Water
Supply and Sanitation Services
ii. Establishment of a Change Management Office.
iii. Establishment of Water Supply Regulatory Agency (WASRA).
iv. Repositioning of Water Corporation.
v. Establishment of Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Agency
(STOWASSA).
vi. Empowerment of RUWASSA.
vii. Establishment of Task Group on Sanitation.
viii. Establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Water Resources
Management.
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11. 1.0 SECTION ONE: INTRODUCTION
A recent WHO/Unicef Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) document (2010 updated)
indicates that only 32% of the 150 million Nigerians have access to improved
sanitation facilities i.e. an estimated 102 million Nigeria still lack access to basic
sanitation facilities. The document also indicates that about half of the Nigerian
population do not have access to safe source of drinking water. Only one third of all
schools in Nigeria have access to safe water. According to 2008 Demographic and
Health Surveys (DHS-2008), diarrhoea is identified to be responsible for 16% of child
deaths in the country.
Stakeholders agree that the foregoing unenviable statistics are caused by two main
problems confronting the Nigeria water and sanitation sector. They are:
i) Inadequate sector policy and institutional framework.
At present, the Nigerian water sector policy has no legislation backing it. The Water
law of 1993 (Decree 101), which expounds a command (top-down) structure of water
management by the FMWR, was wholly rejected by stakeholders in the states. The
law remains un-implemented since its enactment in 1993. A draft National Water Bill
(2009) was produced with the support of Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform
Programme (WSSSRP) to incorporate good water governance practices as well as
integrated water resources management principles. The Bill is still awaiting
enactment into law. There is equally no regulatory framework in place at the federal
level; donor coordination is non-existent, sector monitoring and review are absent.
The situation is similar in the states. There were no water policies and laws in place
in the states before now. Although States are now making frantic efforts to develop a
policy framework for the sector, development of implementing strategies, water laws
and regulatory frameworks have not yet been developed. The consequences of
inadequate policy and institutional framework are absence of a water sector action
plan, leading to poor funding of the sector. Without water sector programme planning
coupled with adequate funding, state water institutions are unable to deliver quality
water and sanitation services to the people.
Women and children are the most affected by the poor service delivery. Women
spend many hours searching for water. Many children die of water-related diseases
e.g diarrhoea, while many miss school in search of water, the quality of which is
suspect.
ii) Weak sector institutions.
The Nigerian water sector is bedevilled with weak institutions caused by:
− low technical and managerial expertise: An institutional capacity
assessment of the water sector institutions in the states indicates that
technical and managerial capacity is poor. Staffing is lopsided; with unskilled
staff making up a greater percentage of the workforce. Many of the water
sector institutions have no job descriptions or job evaluations or skills profiles.
There is no system of performance management incentives or disincentives
in place.
− Poor funding: Budget allocation to the water sector has declined in the last
two decades in all the states. Although water is often mentioned as a priority
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12. in the states, this is hardly matched by budget allocation to the water sector.
In many cases less than 50% of the budget is actually released to the sector.
The consequences are that new investments are curtailed and maintenance
of existing facilities is neglected. In many of the states, due to inefficient use
of resources, focus is often on capital expenditure rather than on routine
maintenance of existing facilities.
- Poor service delivery orientation (institutions are unaccountable and
insensitive to users and customers). There are no complaint desks for
unsatisfied customers. Forums for services providers-customers interaction are
hardly available.
- Poor data collection and monitoring. Data collection and performance
monitoring systems hardly exist in any of the states.
The consequence of low technical capacity, poor funding and lack of performance
monitoring and review mechanism is that water sector institutions are not delivering
services. The population does not have access to safe water sources. The
population, especially children, are exposed to water-related diseases.
1.1 Overview of Water Supply and Sanitation Development in Nigeria
The government of Nigeria recognizes water and sanitation as part of the most
important needs of man. Various government initiatives geared towards meeting the
basic need have been designed in the past. In spite of these initiatives, it is estimated
that majority of the people in the urban and rural areas still lack access to potable
water supply and sanitation. The situation is such that average delivery in urban
areas is far below 60 litres per capita per day and 20 litres per capita per day for rural
areas. The picture as it exists now poses a great challenge to government at all
levels.
The united Nation declared the period 1980 to 1990 as the water and sanitation
decade. The key element of the Water Decade was full coverage of water and
sanitation for all citizens of the member countries of the UN. The African Convention
on the conservation of the nature and natural resources enjoins member States to
develop policies for the conservation, utilization and development of underground
and surface water.
As a signatory to both the UN declaration and the African Convention, the
government of Nigeria initiated various interventions in the water supply and
sanitation sector. At the time of the review of the Water Decade by the African
Working Group of the Collaborative Council on Water and Sanitation, Nigeria was
identified as one of the few countries with a draft Water and Sanitation Policy.
In 1992, Nigeria developed the Rural Water and Sanitation Sector Strategy and
Action Plan. Urban and semi-urban schemes were also being implemented through
the State Water Board/Corporations. Through the policy and programmes identified,
the government initiatives yielded positive results. Overall performance in the sector
indicates that coverage of water and sanitation has reached 57% and 42%
respectively. In spite of these achievements, available statistics indicate that there is
more to be done, if the goal of the Water Decade of universal coverage is to be
attained.
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13. The implementation process has resulted in lesson learning and this has helped to
inform the design of interventions in the water sector. A review of the 1992 policy led
to the design of a new Water and sanitation Policy in 2000 as well as a strategic
framework to guide the implementation of the policy. In addition, the Small Towns
Water and Sanitation Programme, is currently under implementation. The
programme was reviewed in 2004 to help assess not just the impact but also improve
the delivery mechanism.
The efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria are geared towards creating an
enabling environment for public-private sector partnership, providing a lead to states
so they can formulate their own policies and strategies for the provision of water
supply and sanitation services in the country.
Consequent upon the enactment of Water Act 101 of 1993 and the preparation of the
National Water Resources Master Plan in 1995, the Water Resources Management
Reform Programme commenced in 1997; this programme carried out a Water Sector
review in Legal and Regulatory Framework, Institutional Framework and Participatory
Approach, Information and Water Resources Data Base, Water Resources
Economics and Financing, Environment and Resource Sustainability, Water
Resources Infrastructure, Assets and Assets Management and International Waters.
The report of these reviews provided inputs in the formulation for a Water Resources
policy, principles and strategies.
1.2 National Water Policy and Legal Framework
The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and in fact all other laws
have given the Federal Government jurisdiction over shared water resources, large
dams, formulation and implementation of policies for overall water resources
management.
The Federal Government of Nigeria recognizes water and sanitation as the most
important basic need of man. Various initiatives and efforts were designed in the
past few decades by the Government and its development partners to meet this
important need. In spite of these initiatives, majority of the people in urban and rural
areas still lack access to potable water supply and sanitation.
According to figures contained in the National Policy on Water Supply and Sanitation,
only about 46% of the populace have access to safe drinking water. Access to water
and sanitation is usually higher in urban than rural areas. Service coverage in urban
areas is approximately 50%, and rural coverage is estimated to be 35% of actual
demand for water supply
As a way of accelerating access to social services in the country, the Government of
Nigeria developed a blue print strategy document, the National Economic
Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS), for the socio-economic
transformation of the country. States were also encouraged to follow suit with their
SEEDS, and LEEDS at the local government level.
Meanwhile, in the year 2000, the Federal Government came up with the National
Water Supply and Sanitation Policy which aims at providing sufficient potable water
and sanitation to all Nigerians in an affordable and sustained manner through
participatory investment by the three tiers of Government, the private sector and the
beneficiary communities. The elements of the policy objective include:
• Ensuring affordability of water supply and sanitation services for the citizens.
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14. • Guaranteeing affordable access for the poor to basic human need level of
water supply and sanitation services.
Arising from the National Water Supply and Sanitation Policy, all states are expected
to develop a State Water Supply and Sanitation policy within the context of their
respective peculiarities. It is in realization of this that Ekiti State Government is taking
up the challenge by developing a people centred policy framework for the
management and development of the sector in the state. This is in line with the State
Development Blue Print called State Development Strategy (2011 – 2014) as the key
development Action Plan of the State. Core to the success of the blue print, is
institutional reforms at all levels of government. The section on water resources
sector clearly states that potable water, as a basic necessity is not available to a vast
majority of the populace. The policy direction of the government therefore is to
improve water supply and management for other productive activities with a view to
eradicating the scourge of water related diseases.
1.3 Location and Climate
The State is situated entirely within the tropics. It is located between Longitudes 40
451 and 50 451 East of Greenwich Meridian and Latitudes 70 151 and 80 51 North of
Equator and Time zone of WAT (UTC+01). The State has common boundary with
Kwara and Kogi States in the North, Osun State in the East, Edo State in the West
and Ondo State in the South. Ekiti State lies in the savannah belt of Nigeria with total
land area of 6,353 km2 (2,453 sq miles).
1.4 Geology
In general, Ekiti State is underlain by metamorphic rocks of the pre-cambrian
basement complex, the great chamorkite, quartzite and pegmatite intrusions are
common features in some parts of the basement complex, these basement rocks
show great variation in grain size and mineral composition. The rocks include quartz
gneisses and schists. In grains size structure, the rocks vary from very coarse rained
pegmatite to medium grained gneisses. These rocks are strongly foliated and they
occur as outcrops that are about 250m above sea level in some parts of the Sate.
1.5 Hydrology and Hydrogeology
The drainage system over the areas of Ekiti State basement complex is usually
marked with the proliferation of many small stream channels. The channels of these
smaller streams are dry between November and May. Because of the
geomorphology, the State serves as the watershed and source region for many rivers
that flows into the Atlantic Ocean. These rivers include Ogbese, Ero, Ose and Oni.
Another important aspect of the relief of Ekiti State is the prevalence of erosion
gullies along hill slopes and valleys.
The main source of groundwater in the State is the weathered basement and fracture
zones. Exploitation of groundwater which is structurally controlled and restricted to a
depth of 50-70m. Extensive geophysical surveys are usually required to delineate the
fracture zones.
1.6 Water Sector Challenges in Ekiti State
The sector is characterized with challenges from poor institutional arrangement to
low technical capacity and managerial ineptitude in water service agencies. Since the
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15. creation of the State in 1996, the right institutional arrangement for effective service
delivery in the sector has not been put in place. The State inherited whatever was left
of the old Ondo State Water Corporation from where Ekiti State was carved out from
and the increasing population notably in major cities of Ado-Ekiti, Ikere-Ekiti,
Aramoko, Igede-Ekiti, Iyin-Ekiti, Ifaki to mention a few has increased the pressure on
water demand and sanitation services.
Ekiti State’s rich water resources endowment is not in doubt, neither is the great
efforts made by the each succeeding state government to improve access to potable
water, yet the State still faces several challenges in the sector.
Challenges are mostly a result of improper management of the resources and failure
to adopt an integrated approach in the management of the rich water resources in
the State. The performance of Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) sector in Ekiti
State is largely reflected by the level of service delivery of the agencies that are
statutorily charged with the responsibility of providing WSS services to the people of
the State.
According to the Ekiti State Development Strategy (2011 – 2014), which is the
development roadmap of the State and at present, the preoccupation of this
administration, the policy target for water includes the followings:
• to provide safe water to all citizens of Ekiti State
• to improve hygiene and sanitation in Ekiti State
• improved management of dams
The specific targets include:
• Make water available in all the nook and cranny of the State
• provide hygiene and sanitation services
• effectiveness and efficient waste management system (i.e. waste-to-
wealth)
• promote behaviour change through Community Led Total Sanitation
(CLTS)
These policy targets are indication that the State government is focussed and
committed to improving water supply and sanitation service delivery in the State. This
policy will therefore lay the foundation for the attainment of these targets.
1.6.1 Urban Water Supply
Like any other State in Nigeria, coping with the socio-economic challenges of urban
centres has been very demanding as successive administration try to meet the
aspirations of the teeming population especially in provision of social services such
as healthcare, education and water supply. Under Nigeria’s past and present Federal
laws, urban water supply is a state responsibility. Hence the Ekiti State government
created the Ekiti State Water Corporation (EKSWC) in 1997 to manage and operate
systems for water service delivery in Urban officially defined as areas with a
population in excess of 20,000 and in some semi-urban areas.
All the water schemes have varying degrees of constraints which include:
• Inadequate funding
• aged plant and equipment,
• faulty and inadequate distribution system
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16. • unreliable power supply to the schemes
• Low tariff, and
• Weak institutional and managerial framework
The combined effect of these constraints is that only about 38% of the urban
settlements in Ekiti State are presently served by EKSWC.
1.6.2 Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation
In 2004, Ekiti State became a beneficiary of EU supported Water Supply and
Sanitation Sector Reform Programme through the National Planning Commission
and the then Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources. As a criterion to
fully benefit from the programme, the State was requested to have a Small Town
Water Supply Agency. In an attempt to meet that criterion, the State created a Unit in
the State Water Corporation for Small Town Water Supply which was solely to work
for the implementation of the programme (WSSSRP). The purpose of the programme
according to the signed MoU is to develop the best delivery mechanism for water and
sanitation in focal small towns which are to be replicated in other small towns across
Nigeria.
The Unit has lived up to its expectation since creation and as a result, the Unit is in
the process of being transformed to an agency with the aim of translating the EU
operating principles to other small towns of the State. To date, the department has
constructed through contract 12 mini water schemes in 12 small towns, whilst 4 have
been completed and handed over to the community for O&M others are at various
stages of completion.
A major objective of this approach is to ensure community participation, ownership
and management. Once the schemes are completed through a cost sharing formular
among four stakeholder groups (Federal, State, LGA and Community), the schemes
are transferred to the community for ownership, operation and maintenance. Each
small town is to have a WCA which are supposedly constituted via a community
management process, registered with the CAC under the company Allied Matters as
a public liability entity and saddled with the responsibility of managing, operating and
maintaining the water scheme. The WCA is also saddled with sanitation improvement
throughout the community. Considering the fact that Ekiti State has many small
towns (about 60% of the State), it is suggested that the process of transforming this
Unit into the desired agency be fast tracked to help in sustaining water schemes at
this level of service delivery.
1.6.3 Rural Water Supply and Sanitation
The Ekiti State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) started as a
WATSAN project assisted by UNICEF in 1998. The then UNICEF assisted WATSAN
project was transformed into a full-fledged Agency in 2010 through an Enactment of
the State House of Assembly No.11 of 2010. The same enactment of the House of
Assembly also established WASH Departments in all the LGAs of the State. Key
functions of the Agency as listed in the enactment, among others are as follows:
16

17. • Establish working relationship with all Local Governments in the State on
issues of rural water supply, sanitation and hygiene.
• Assist Local Government to plan and implement their rural water supply
sanitation and hygiene education programmes by devising schemes
which will allow community participation in terms of capacity building and
maintenance.
• Construct low cost technology latrines such as the sanitary platform
(SANPLAT), Ventilated Improved Pit Latrines (VIPL) and demonstrated
toilet units in strategic places in the LGA; and
• Liaise with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources for national guidelines
and reporting up-to-date data on water supply, sanitation and hygiene
coverage to the Ministry’s monitoring units through the State’s parent
Ministry at quarterly intervals.
Water supply is usually used as the entry point into these communities. RUWASSA
has plans to scale up UNICEF interventions in many more communities of the State.
If EK-RUWASSA is to fulfil its statutory role of leading the way in rural water supply
and sanitation, the government needs to increase the autonomy of this agency, build
its technical and managerial capacity and increase funds to the agency.
1.6.4 Urban Sanitation
Water related sanitation in the urban areas of Ekiti State is presently not accorded
the attention that it deserves. The Ekiti SEPA has the responsibility for water related
sanitation in the State. It is also charged with the responsibility of generally ensuring
that the environment is pollution free, enforcement of environmental standards and
regulations, reduce human activities that negatively impact on the environment
including pollution of water bodies through industrial effluents and air quality. The
agency also works in collaboration with the State Town Planning Authority to check
indiscriminate citing of petrol filling stations that have been found in recent time to be
sources of underground water contamination through leakages of the underground
tanks.
Despite the responsibilities saddled with the agency, the barrage of problems
including but not limited to:
• inadequate funding
• lack of laboratory for environmental quality control and assurance
• lack of capacity to embark on effective education and public
enlightenment
• weak institutional capacity to enforce laws and maintain environmental
standards
• inadequate manpower in terms of prerequisite skills and qualification
• weak institutional arrangement that leads to duplication of statutory
role
However, there are some activities going on with respect to solid waste management
especially in the urban centres of Ado-Ekiti and Ikere-Ekiti through the State Waste
Management Authority (EWMA). The activities of this agency are conspicuously
noticed in the streets of Ado-Ekiti with Street sweepers seen on daily basis sweeping
major streets of the city. Their waste bins are seen at strategic places and their
17

18. refuse vans are seen collecting refuse from the various collection points for onward
transportation to the dump sites. However, their various refuse dump sites are
potential threats to underground water. Presently, no EIA was conducted on any of
the dump sites and the extent of contamination they can cause to underground water
has not been determined, neither is there any alternative measure put in place to
ensure that population around the dump sites have access to safe water. This policy
needs to address solid waste management and environmental pollution in relation to
water sources.
1.7 Definition of Terms
These are terms that are generally used in water supply and sanitation service
delivery and are generally used and applied within the context of the Millennium
Development Goals (MDG).
1.7.1 Access to water supply and sanitation facility:
Access to safe water is defined as the availability of potable water of at least 30 litres
per person per day, located within 250-500 meters of every household. Access to
safe drinking-water is also taken as the percentage of the population using
"improved" water sources.
Access to sanitation is defined as the availability of safe excreta disposal facility at
either household level, communal based or in public places. It also looks at the sum
total of population using improved sanitation facilities. It follows that a person should
have access to atleast a pit latrine within a radius of not more than 500m and not
more than 10 persons to a latrine.
Access to water supply and sanitation is not merely dependent on the existence of a
water supply source or the existence of a latrine. Therefore, when assessing people's
level of access both to water supply and sanitation, it is important not to restrict this
only to issues of distance to a source and density of users, but it further involves a
range of other aspects such as:
Regularity: how frequently is the service or facility available to people and
when;
Sufficiency: how much water is available per capital per day or how many
people are using the sanitation facility;
Affordability: how much do people have to pay for the service, particularly in
relation to their income. The standard measurement is that households are
not expected to spend more than 3% of their income on water and sewerage
Quality: what is the quality (of water and sanitation facilities) of the service
available; and,
Safety: how safe is the water supplied and how safe and culturally acceptable
is the sanitation facilities, especially for women and children who must rely on
facilities outside the household (e.g. public toilets).
1.7.2 Integrated water resource management (IWRM):
IWRM is a process that promotes the coordinated development and management of
water, land and related resources in order to maximize the resultant economic and
18

19. social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital
ecosystems.
19

20. 2.0 SECTION TWO: PRESENT SITUATION, POLICY GOALS, OBJECTIVE AND
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Successive administrations in Ekiti State have implemented water supply and
sanitation schemes since the creation of the State in 1996. While key areas of focus
had been on construction of urban and semi-urban water schemes and rural water
supply, implementation of the various projects at the time did not involve sanitation
until 2005. Since then, sanitation provision in both communities and schools has
been an integral component of the water supply schemes, particularly in the rural
areas.
Delivery of water and sanitation services in the State has been through the State
Agencies such as the State Water Corporation and the newly established Ekiti State
Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency. The Water Corporation is responsible for
the management, operation and maintenance of urban based water schemes, while
a unit of small town water supply in the corporation is responsible for water supply in
semi-urban/small towns. The State Agency for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation is
responsible for rural water supply and sanitation delivery in rural communities of the
State. These agencies are currently being supervised by the Bureau for Infrastructure
and Public Utilities headed by a Special Adviser to the Governor. Apart from these
agencies, the Department for Millennium Development Goal (MDG) in the Ministry of
Integration and Inter-Government Affairs is also involved in water supply service
provision particularly to rural communities/small towns, schools and government
establishments such as Hospitals and public places such as market and abattoirs.
Despite the efforts of the State government, the water supply and sanitation situation
in Ekiti State remains very poor. Based on the 2006 National population census, the
population of Ekiti State is 2.384 million. It is estimated that more than half the
present population, or approximately 1million people, do not have access to safe,
reliable and affordable potable water supplies with current coverage and access rate
put at less than 40%. This means that about 60% of the people of the State obtain
their water from alternative sources. These alternative water sources are usually very
costly, often impose high labour requirements for fetching water, and the quality may
be suspect. In such a situation, it is usually the poor or the low income earners that
are the culprit, thereby denying them the right to access potable water. In terms of
sanitation, indiscriminate open defecation is very common especially in small towns
and rural communities and the slum areas of the cities. Current sanitation coverage
in the State is as low as 38% in urban and 32% in rural. These are even below the
national average of 52% and 48% respectively. This clearly indicates that the water
and sanitation sector is not delivering adequate and equitable service to the people
of the state.
This situation is as a result of or a combination of many factors, including but not
limited to:
a) The level of investment in the sector has not been adequate to match the
rapid population growth.
b) Investment has focused on capital works rather than on a sustainable
operation and maintenance system, resulting in deterioration of systems in
the sector.
20

21. c) Operational costs are high due to poor power supply, high treatment
requirements for surface water sources and long pumping distances which
in turn affect pumping duration.
d) Water has been treated as a social service by government, and there has
been a lack of emphasis on cost recovery. This combined with high
operational costs and lack of focus on operation and maintenance has
made systems unsustainable.
e) Water unaccounted for is very high due to ageing equipment and leakages
in pipeline distribution networks recently occasioned by damages during
construction of roads, drainages, side walkways and roundabouts for city
beautification.
f) The sector is characterized by very low skills, untrained manpower,
unqualified technical officers lacking in both technical and managerial
experience and coupled with a government set up where motivation is low.
g) The private sector has not developed interest to support the sector due to
government stronghold on control and management of respective water
and sanitation agencies coupled with the absence of a policy framework
that creates an enabling environment for private sector participation.
h) Lack of coordination in the sector, and duplication of efforts between the
various organizations. This has led to haphazard implementation of
statutory roles by different agencies and departments of government.
i) Water supply has been delivered from the “top-down” with government
making all the decisions. There has not been thought of community based
approaches to operation and maintenance of schemes, especially at small
towns and even urban areas of the State.
Again, the sector lacks adequate statistics based upon which projections could be
made and fed into programme planning. The absence of adequate and accurate data
has affected the effectiveness with which the sector activities are managed. In view
of this, fire brigade approach to operation and maintenance is the order of the day,
thereby making it systematically plan for addressing the water and sanitation needs
of the people difficult.
This policy framework is essential so that clear monitoring mechanisms are put in
place to assess the level of performance in the sector. The current 8 Point Agenda of
this administration which is a roadmap to accelerated socio-economic development
of the State will be enhanced through the formulation of this policy framework for the
water sector which is central to the effective performance of other sectors of the
State’s economy. This policy framework will provide a coherent approach to
addressing problems identified in the sector and helps to put in perspective the way
targets should be pursued and implemented over time.
In a nut shell, the policy is designed in such a way that unproductive approach to how
the sector is organized and managed is removed. However, it should be emphasized
21

22. that landmark changes in orientation, thinking, attitude, policies, organizational
structure and management of the sector are required if improvements to the water
supply and sanitation situation in state are to be achieved within the foreseeable
future.
2.1 Policy Goal
This policy framework is developed with the intent that institutional, socio-economic
and legal reforms in the sector will lead to:
• Improved water governance at the State, Local Government and
community levels.
• Improved access to safe, adequate and sustainable water supply
services for the people of Ekiti State.
The Mission statement of Ekiti State Government is to provide sufficient potable
water and safe sanitation facilities to the citizens of and residents in the state in an
affordable and sustainable way as it relates to the expressed intention of the state
Government in its State development strategy (2011 – 2014) and in accordance with
the National Water Supply and Sanitation Policy, and the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGS).
2.2 Policy Objective
The centre-piece of Ekiti State’s water supply and sanitation policy shall be the
provision of adequate potable water and safe sanitation facilities to all residents of
the state through participatory investment and management by all stakeholders with
a view to guaranteeing available, accessible, affordable, reliable and sustainable
service delivery.
2.3 Policy Targets
For effective sector performance and performance measurement, it is essential that a
policy has specific targets that will guide its operation and performance. In this
respect, the targets set below are to enable the government to be well focussed and
channel resources to meeting the targets.
2.3.1 Water Supply
• The initial target is to improve on water supply service coverage from the
present less than 40% to 60% by the year 2014.
• Extension of water supply service coverage to 80% of the population by
the year 2016
• Extension of water supply service coverage to 100% of the state’s
population in the year 2020
• Sustain 100% full coverage of water supply for the growing population
beyond the year 2020
2.3.2 Sanitation
22

23. • The initial target for sanitation service coverage is to improve on the
present 32%
to 50% by 2014
• Extension of sanitation service coverage to 60% by 2016
• Extension of sanitation service coverage to 80% by 2018
• Extension of sanitation service coverage to 100% by 2020 and
• Sustain 100% full coverage of sanitation services for the growing
population beyond the year 2020.
2.4. Consumption standards
The National Water Supply and Sanitation policy has established a standard of 120
litres per capita per day for urban, 80 litres per capita per day for small town and 60
litres per capita per day for rural communities. In Ekiti State however, considering the
current organizational and technical capacities of the water supply service agencies,
it is difficult to meet the set national standards. To have an effective, affordable,
consistent, achievable and sustainable water supply, it is necessary to establish
minimum standards of supply and also to enforce these standards. These minimum
standards relate to both quality of water and quantity provided. Therefore, this policy
seeks to meet minimum standards as set below:
2.4.1. Rural water supply
This policy guarantees minimum water supply standard of 30 litres per capita per
day for settlements with population less than 5,000.
2.4.7 Small towns water supply.
This policy guarantees minimum water supply standard of 60 litres per capita per
day for small towns with population of between 5,000 and 20,000.
2.4.8 Urban water supply
This policy guarantees minimum water supply standard of 80 litres per capita per
day for urban areas with population greater than 20,000 inhabitants.
2.4.9 Rural Sanitation
The minimum sanitation facility for rural communities shall be sanplat latrine with
special focus on CLTS championed by EK-RUWASSA in collaboration with the
Department of Environmental Health and Sanitation in the Ministry of Environment
and Housing.
2.4.10 Small Town Sanitation
The minimum sanitation facility in a small town shall be sanplats latrine as
determined and designed by Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Agency
(STOWASSA).
2.4.6 Urban Sanitation
23

24. The minimum sanitation facility in an urban area shall be pour flush as determined
and designed by Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Agency in collaboration
with the State Environmental Protection Agency (EK-SEPA). The government should
begin to think in the direction of designating an area for sanitary landfills to take care
of urban sewage and sanitation. The area should have minimum clearance of about
5km radius from the designated landfills where there shall be no drinking water
sources.
2.5 Policy Guiding Principles
This policy is based on a set of fundamental principles and guiding philosophies. The
principles and philosophies are in-line with the current thinking and direction of the
Federal Government of Nigeria and current trends in the water sector as well as other
sectors in developing countries, designed to improve service delivery. Some of the
fundamental principles enumerated below are also included to meet the targets for water
supply in the State development strategy plan (2011 – 2014).
i. Ekiti State Government recognizes that water is life and essential for
human existence and should therefore be accorded the highest
priority it deserves.
ii. The government recognizes that while water is a social good, it is as
well an economic and environmental good, therefore an Integrated
approach should be developed in its management and service
delivery to the final beneficiaries.
iii. The State Government believes that access to potable water and safe
sanitation is a fundamental human need, therefore, a basic right.
However, government shall strive to meet the minimum standards set
in this policy.
iv. Every resident of the state shall have right to access potable water of
at least 30 litres per day, within a distance of between 100 and 250
metres within any settlement in the State and access to at least a pour
flush latrine within a distance of between 250 and 500 metres in any
settlement in the State.
v. This policy framework shall be coherent with national water policies
and programmes to meet national requirement and take advantage of
funds available from the federal government and external agencies.
vi. Having recognized that water is a socio-economic and environmental
good, all users of water should therefore pay for water based on level
of service provided. This is with a view to at least recovering O&M
cost.
vii. A recent publication by the National Bureau of Statistics indicated that
about 69% of Nigerians live below the poverty line of less than $1 per
day (NBS, 2012). Therefore, a pro poor concept shall be developed in
setting appropriate tariffs.
24

25. viii. All water supply service providers shall be allowed to set appropriate
tariff from time to time subject to approval by the Water Supply
Regulatory Agency (WASRA) or the appropriate agency empowered
to do so in the interim.
ix. For efficiency and improved performance of State water supply
agencies, government shall grant water supply service agencies
adequate autonomy with a view to empowering them to recover at
least their O&M and gradually recover overhead cost. To this end,
government shall gradually discontinue funding the operation and
maintenance of systems.
x. The government shall continue to provide the majority of capital
financing for rehabilitation of existing systems and construction of new
systems (including expansion of systems). After a system has been
rehabilitated or newly constructed with government capital
contributions, the future O&M shall be by the system.
xi. The government shall continue to explore all opportunities for
engaging communities in management and O&M of water schemes
through their local community development associations for
sustainability.
xii. The government shall gradually cease from being a provider of water
supply and sanitation services, and instead shall be a policy maker,
supervisor, regulator, facilitator of change and creating enabling
environment for sustainable operation by all sector players.
xiii. The government recognises that the private sector has a role to play
in water resources and sanitation development, and would create
an enabling environment for the participation of the private sector in
the delivery of water supply and sanitation services.
xiv. The appropriate agencies of government shall explore all Public
Private Partnership (PPP) options and go for the one that is most
beneficial in terms of improved performance and quality service
delivery.
xv. The assets of urban based water schemes shall be held in public trust
by the public water agencies, and shall be managed like enterprises-
free from political interference, autonomous in its managerial,
financial, technical and personnel functions, and operating along
commercial lines.
xvi. Assets provided under the small and rural schemes shall be held in
trust for government by the respective small towns and rural
communities through their WCAs and WASHCOMs.
xvii. Government shall base water and sanitation management and
development on a bottom-up approach, which is demand driven,
involving users, planners and policy makers at all levels.
xviii. The government shall partner with CSOs and engage them in
community involvement in water supply and sanitation service delivery
25

26. based on their experience and prerequisite skills in community
management processes
xix. The government shall ensure that sustainability is incorporated into
planning process, and government funds shall not be invested in
water systems unless long term sustainability through a participatory
approach is demonstrated.
xx. The government shall ensure the protection of water sources from
environmental contamination and pollution essential for long term
sustainable water supply provision, through collaboration with the
State Environmental Protection Agency and the agencies involved in
physical planning and development.
xxi. All environmentally based operations and projects such as
construction of solid waste dump sites, sewage disposal sites,
construction of incinerators, public or private latrines, abattoirs, oil and
gas filling stations, industries that emit or discharge toxic waste
(effluents) and mechanized farmlands must not cause adverse
environmental impacts and in particular to water sources.
xxii. In view of 20 above, government shall ensure that any of such
operations or projects mentioned in 20 above shall be accompanied
with a comprehensive EIA report and where adverse impact to water
sources are envisaged, government shall relocate such operations or
projects to a more suitable site or put in place adequate mitigation
measures.
xxiii. The government through the relevant MDAs shall develop strategies
that will lead to controllable use of farm chemicals such as fertilizers,
pesticides and fumigants and educate farmers on the danger of
drinking from shallow wells dug in or around farmlands.
xxiv. Government shall ensure that all water supply service providers in the
State produce potable water that meets the WHO and the Nigerian
Standard for Drinking Water Quality, while environmental health
officers in the State ensure that each household meets the minimum
requirements for safe sanitation.
xxv. In the spirit of participatory democracy and gender mainstreaming,
government shall ensure that both women and men are adequately
represented in all water and sanitation decision making organs and
processes at the state, local, and community levels.
xxvi. Reliable data collection, processing and storage are essential
ingredients for researching, planning and budgeting. Therefore, all
water agencies of the State shall have functional PRS Departments
with Monitoring and Evaluation Units equipped with adequate
electronic software and systems with a view to making data
management the basis for planning and budgeting in the water and
sanitation sector.
xxvii. Schools are seen as veritable grounds for promoting best sanitation
and hygiene practices, therefore, relevant MDAs shall promote WASH
26

27. in schools with a view to using school children as change agents for
effective WASH promotions in all communities.
xxviii. The State Government shall embark on institutional reform, capacity
building, and creation of an enabling legal environment for effective
implementation.
xxix. This policy shall be viewed as a long term objective and it may take
long term to implement all aspects of the policy.
xxx. In view of the economic value that has been added to potable water
supply, it shall not be treated as free commodity for the purpose of
sustainability.
27

28. 3.0 SECTION THREE: INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE, ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
3.1 Federal Ministry of Water Resources
The Federal Ministry of Water Resources shall be responsible for policy advice,
contribute to funding of new schemes along the national cost sharing formular. It
shall also be responsible for formulation, data collection, resources and demand
surveys, monitoring, evaluation and coordination of water supply development and
management, studies, research and development including the following;
i. establishment and operation of national water quality laboratories and
monitoring network of water quality standards.
ii. maintenance of database on water supply and sanitation facilities and
performance.
iii. mobilization of national and international funding and technical support
with a view to promoting and coordinating other collaborative activities
by other government and non governmental agencies in the sector.
iv. provide technical support and assistance to the state and local
government water and sanitation agencies and the community water
supply sanitation committees.
v. creation of an enabling environment for meaningful private sector
participation in the sector.
vi. provision of a framework for the regulation of private sector
participation in water supply and sanitation and under decree 101,
formulate laws for private initiatives in the water supply industry.
vii. assist individual agencies, and be responsible for the maintenance of
the hydrological primary network.
viii. The River Basin Development Authority shall be responsible for the
establishment and supply of bulk water.
ix. The National Water Resources Institute shall be responsible for
manpower training, research, development and studies under the
national water supply training network in the water supply sector.
28

29. 3.2 Ekiti State Ministry of Water Resources/Directorate of Water Supply and
Sanitation Services
The State Ministry of Water Resources or the Directorate for Water Supply and
Sanitation Services in the State shall serve as the link between the State and Federal
government and external support agencies on all matters of water and sanitation in
the State. The Ministry or Directorate shall in addition to the traditional Departments
of Administration, Finance and PRS, have the following Departments or Units
respectively:
Department/Unit of Water Supply and Policy Coordination
Department/Unit of Hydrology, Hydrogeology and Surveys
Department/Unit of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
Department/Unit of Regulation and Public Relations
Department/Unit of Community Health and Sanitation Services
The roles and functions of each Department/Unit shall be comprehensively explained
in the policy implementation guidelines. The Ministry or Directorate shall however
play the following roles:
i. shall be charged with the responsibility of actualizing the policy
objectives and supervise the reform implementation process.
ii. shall ensure separate appropriation for all agencies under its
jurisdictions and timely release of funds for water supply and
sanitation activities annually.
iii. shall ensure that all funds from internal and external sources for water
supply and sanitation programmes are properly utilized.
iv. shall promote sanitation and hygiene education as part of the
curricular at primary, secondary school and, tertiary institutions
particularly teachers’ training institutions and schools of health
technology or any other institutions where environmental health
officers are trained.
v. shall engage in monitoring and evaluation of water supply and
sanitation activities at the State and Local government levels.
vi. shall engage in the training, capacity building and involvement of
government personnel, civil society organizations (NGOS), the private
sector, communities and environmental health officers in water supply
and sanitation service delivery throughout the State.
vii. shall ensure the provision of appropriate and adequate water supply
and sanitation facilities in all public institutions of the State and ensure
that such institutions pay the prescribed fees or rates.
viii. shall liaise with relevant MDAs in the State that have statutory role
that impact on water supply and sanitation with a view to harmonizing
and coordinating activities in the sector.
ix. shall be responsible for licensing and monitoring of water supply
service providers and monitor the quality of water supply to the public.
29

30. x. shall provide technical assistance to the local government rural water
supply units through its appropriate department or unit.
xi. develop, maintain and beneficially exploit water resources both
surface and underground.
xii. support sanitation and hygiene promotion activities, such as provision
of hand washing facilities in all public places including government
offices for demonstration and promotion of hand washing with soap
thoughout the State.
xiii. partner with the appropriate government agency and development
partners to popularize and celebrate UN dedicated dates for
promotion of sanitation and hygiene such as World Water Day, World
Toilet Day and World Hand Washing Day.
3.3 Water Corporation of Ekiti State
The Ekiti State Water Corporation is generally saddled with the responsibility of water
supply to urban areas of the State through its numerous treatment plants. Although,
its services are also enjoyed by small towns and rural communities, its roles and
responsibilities need to be streamlined in accordance to the objectives of this policy.
Therefore, the water corporation in line with its role enumerated in the edict that
established it shall:
i. plan, control and manage all water schemes vested in the Ekiti State
Water Corporation.
ii. establish, control, manage, extend and develop water works as the
government considered necessary for the purpose of providing
wholesome, potable water for consumption by the public for domestic,
trade, commercial, industrial, scientific and other uses.
iii. ensure that adequate wholesome water is supplied to its consumers in
line with WHO and the National standard for drinking water quality.
iv. determine and charge water rates in respect of (iii) and present it to
the Ekiti State Water Supply Regulatory Agency (EK-WASRA) or the
agency so designated for approval.
v. conduct, organize or commission research in respect to water supply,
water resources development and matters connected therewith and
submit the results of such research to the Commissioner for Water
Resources or the Head of the Directorate of Water Supply and
Sanitation Services for formulation of policy.
vi. ensure that communities in urban areas are organized as enumerated
in this policy and are involved in the management, operation and
maintenance of water supply thereby enhancing revenue collection.
vii. ensure that contracts or agreements entered into with a third party
(private sector) aimed at improving water supply in the State are
properly documented, adequately supervised and well executed.
30

31. 3.4 Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (STOWASSA)
This agency when finally established shall play similar roles as Water Corporation but
covering only small town water projects not under the management of Water
Corporation. Therefore, the agency in line with its statutory roles as will be stated in
the edict establishing it shall:
i. ensure control and management of water schemes vested in the
agency.
ii. establish, control, manage, extend and develop water schemes to
small towns using a demand responsive approach for the purpose of
providing potable water for small town communities.
iii. ensure that small town communities are organized as enumerated in
this policy and are involved in the management, operation and
maintenance of water supply schemes in their jurisdiction.
iv. ensure that lessons learnt in the EU supported Water Supply and
sanitation reform programme (WSSSRP) are replicated and scaled up
in all small towns of the State where the agency has jurisdiction.
v. ensure that small town communities that enter into contracts or
agreements with a third party (private sector) aimed at improving
water supply and sustaining the scheme are properly documented,
adequately supervised and well executed for the overall benefit of the
community.
vi. develop appropriate sanitation technology options for small towns and
in conjunction with the LGA WES Departments ensure that sanitation
is taken seriously in all the small towns of the State.
3.5 Ekiti State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (EK-RUWASSA)
This agency was established under an act of State parliament No. 10 of 2010 to
support all LGAs in the State on issues of rural water supply, sanitation and hygiene
promotion. The agency in line with its statutory roles as enumerated in the
establishment edict shall:
i. design and popularize sanitation technology options, especially for
rural communities for the purpose of promoting sanitation and hygiene
throughout the State.
ii. develop minimum standards for borehole drilling for the purpose of
water supply in rural communities and ensure that contractors do not
construct boreholes below the established standards.
iii. partner with NGOs/CSOs to scale up sanitation and latrine uptake in
all rural communities of the State through the promotion of CLTS
concept.
iv. partner with NYSC for scaling up of sanitation and hygiene throughout
rural communities of the State by promoting CLTS, WASH in schools
and value based sanitation and hygiene programmes
31

32. v. partner with development partners to develop CLTS curriculum and
integrate in school system up to post secondary level with a view to
scaling up CLTS.
vi. parner with SUBEB for construction of WASH facilities in all schools of
the State, especially those in rural communities.
vii. support schools (primary and secondary) throughout the State with
hand washing facilities for the promotion of hand washing with soap.
3.6 Ekiti State Community and Social Development Agency (EKCSDA)
This agency is an establishment of the State government assisted by the World Bank
to address poverty situation through the Community Driven Development (CDD)
strategy. The agency is designed to ensure direct access of communities to the State
level agency for full participation of beneficiary communities in all stages of project
identification, development, implementation, monitoring and maintenance. Among
other objectives of the agency are:
i. empower communities to plan, part finance, implement, monitor and
maintain sustainable and socially inclusive multi sectoral micro-projects.
ii. facilitate and increase the community LGA partnership on human
development related projects, by increasing the capacity of LGAs, State
and Federal agencies to implement and monitor CDD policies and
interventions
iii. leverage Federal, State and LGA resources for increased availability of
resources of CDD interventions in communities.
However, and in line with the objectives of this policy, EKCSDA shall work in
partnership with the appropriate agency in the water and sanitation sector to
implement water and sanitation related projects in its intervention programmes. This
will enhance coordination, data management and growth in the water and sanitation
sector.
3.7 Ekiti State Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Office
In September 2005, Nigeria successfully negotiated a debt relief deal with Paris Club
of Creditors and consequently, Nigeria committed itself to spending the gains on pro-
poor projects and programmes in support of the national efforts at achieving the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In realization of this, a Conditional Grant
Scheme (CGS) was set by the Federal government to administer the gains in
collaboration with States and LGAs on cost sharing arrangement on all projects and
programmes. The scheme was designed to provide window of opportunity through
which State and LGAs can access funds annually from the Federal government’s
share of the debt relief gains. The major objectives of the CGS among others are:
i. to offer an opportunity to maximize the use of information and expertise at
every level of government and share the burden of expenditure responsibility
among different levels of government.
ii. to foster genuine consultation and commitment among Federal, State and
Local governments, communities, NGOs to engender project sustainability.
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33. ii. to build a platform on which States and Local governments could harmonize
their budgets fully with the nations Medium-Term-Fiscal Framework.
iii. to leverage spending towards supporting State and Local government
programmes that are fully aligned with national policy objectives and the
MDGs.
The Ekiti State MGD Office has been doing very well since its creation and its
contribution in the water and sanitation sector has been very massive. The
collaboration between it and the Water Corporation of the State has yielded very
visible results. However, and in line with the objectives of this policy, the MDG office
should not work only in partnership with the Water Corporation, but also with
STOWASSA and EK-RUWASSA so as to accelerate access and coverage of water
supply in the State.
3.7 LGA
The Local Government is the closest tier of government to the grassroots, hence,
feels the pulse of the people the more. This tier of government should therefore
institute programmes and projects that will meet the aspiration of the people with
support from the State and Federal tiers of government. With the establishment of
EK-RUWASSA, a department of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) was to be
established in all the LGAs. This is only true of the 4 UNICEF Focal LGAs. For other
LGAs in the State, WASH is only an integral part of the Department of Environmental
Services as has been the case before the edict that established RUWASSA.
In order to maintain uniformity in water supply and sanitation services, there is the
urgent need to pass a circular directing all the LGAs in the State to change their
hitherto Department of environmental services to WASH Department as enumerated
in edict No. 10 of 2010 that established EK-RUWASSA. The LGA through the WASH
Department shall therefore be responsible for all matters of water supply,
environmental sanitation (including excreta disposal and community health in general
and as contained in the establishment edict. In addition to this, the LGA through the
WASH Department shall:
i. ensure separate appropriation and timely release of funds for
WASH activities annually.
ii. make appropriate bye-laws to support the planning, implementation and
monitoring WASH programmes.
iii. source funds from internal and external sources for the promotion of
WASH programmes.
iv. develop WASH programmes for the Local Government headquarters
and communities in their area in consultation with all stakeholders.
v. provide support to communities and households for WASH
development.
vi. ensure that all funds from internal and external sources for sanitation
development are properly utilized.
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34. vii. provide technical assistance to households for the upgrading of on- site
sanitation facilities e.g. traditional pit latrines to a safer and convenient
facility.
viii. promote safe sanitation technology options in all the communities
through a value based WASH programme to be promoted to school
level.
ix. engage in the training and capacity building of government personnel
(environmental health officers, monitors, enforcers and administrators)
and community artisans to be involved in maintenance of WASH
facilities in the communities.
3.8 Communities Based Associations (Water Consumers Associations (WCA) and
Water Sanitation and Hygiene Committee (WASHCOM)
This policy recognises that community involvement in water supply and sanitation
service delivery will not only ensure sustainability of schemes, it will build trust and
confidence in water supply and sanitation governance in the State. The LGA
WASH Departments in partnership with CSOs/NGOs and with the support of EK-
RUWASSA shall organize the communities into community based associations that
will participate at every stage of the decision making process of any water supply
and sanitation project. Such decisions shall include affordability and willingness to
pay for services, operation and maintenance arrangement. These community
based associations shall ensure that:
i. social and cultural factors peculiar to each community are taken into
consideration in arriving at a water supply and sanitation option preferred
for the community.
ii. women, youths and the vulnerable groups including people living with
HIV/AIDs are considered and carried along at all levels of decision-
making and execution of water supply and sanitation programmes.
iii. the community with the aid of sanitation promoters, establish sanitation
norms and practices that is most suitable and acceptable to all resident in
the community as stipulated by this policy and other environmental laws
of the State.
iv. the community sanctions members that do not observe the accepted
water supply and sanitation norms. Most communities through their WCA
or WASHCOMs have their own law enforcing methods and sanctions that
can be applied.
v. the community while considering their norms shall establish structures
and systems for self-monitoring and self-appraisal to ensure that agreed
targets, and goals of water supply, hygiene and sanitation standards are
achieved and sustained.
3.9 Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organizations
NGOs shall make use of their presence and acceptability in the community to
complement government efforts in promoting water supply and sanitation
programmes especially health and hygiene education. NGOs shall be involved but
not limited to the following:
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35. i. advocacy at State and LGA levels for improved water supply and sanitation
governance at community and mobilization of communities for operation
and maintenance.
ii. promotion of WASH in communities and schools through VHPs and
EHCs in schools.
iv. Development of IEC materials for promotion of WASH in communities.
v. Training and capacity building of the community artisans for water scheme
maintenance and construction and social marketing of sanitation
technology options.
vi. bridging existing gaps between government and communities with a view
to improving water and sanitation governance at community level.
vii. work with the appropriate government agencies to ensure generation and
consolidation of relevant data.
3.10 Other Relevant Ministries and Agencies to the Water and sanitation Sector
The water sector cannot operate successfully in isolation. There are other relevant
MDAs that the sector needs to collaborate with for effective coordination and
development of the sector. These MDAs include:
i. Ekiti State Ministry of Environment and Housing
ii. Ekiti State Waste Management Authority
iii. Ekiti State Environmental Protection Agency
iv. Ministry of Health
vi. Hospitals Management Board
vii. Ministry of Education
viii.State Universal Basic Education Board
ix. Ministry of Works and Transport
x. Urban Renewal Board
xi. Ministry of Integration and Inter-Governmental Affairs
xii. Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget
The Ministry of Water Resources or the Directorate for Water Supply and Sanitation
Services shall therefore constitute an Inter-Ministerial Committee of Water and Sanitation
Management that will include all of the MDAs listed above for effective coordination, control
and management.
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