The Media has a strategic role to play in advocacy and acting as watchdog to hold government accountable to implementation of budget allocated to the Environment sector, if open Defecation must end in Lagos by 2030.
This was the consensus of stakeholders at the end of a two day workshop on transparency, accountability and inclusive participatory budgeting held in Ikeja for Lagos state actors in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, WASH, sector.
Speaking on behalf of the Convener, the WaterAid Nigeria WASH Manager, Mr Bamikole Adegbite emphasized the need for the Lagos government to increase the budgetary allocation to WASH activities in 2026 budget to meet the SDG goal 6.
He also challenged all budget officers of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies relevant to implementation and actualization of WASH in the state to live up to their responsibilities of tracking budgetary allocation to ensure actual expenditures are judiciously used to keep diseases away and ensure cleaner and healthier environment in Lagos.
“It requires a concerted effort by all community leaders, traditional rulers, students, parents, traders and every individual to end open defecation by 2030 and the political will of the government to increase funding in the WASH sector”
The facilitator, Mr Ayo Adebusoye who is the Chairman of Lagos Civil Society Participation for Development, took participants through practical knowledge on budget analysis, processes and implementation to ensure transparency accountability and inclusive participatory budgeting using spending on family units as a case study.
Mr Adebusoye tasked participants from different MDAs to use knowledge gained from the workshop to advocate increased funding and release for WASH activities implementation in peri-urban and Rural areas in Lagos, for the benefit of all residents.
The participants from the Lagos Ministries of the Environment and Water Resources, Local Government, Chieftancy Affairs and Rural Development, Budget and Economic planning, LAWMA, LASEPA, Water Corporation and the Media commended WaterAid Nigeria for the opportunity to learn, re-learn, un-learn and be the agents of change in the WASH sector.
Reporting by Yemisi Dada