Minister Seeks Civil Service Collaboration to Boost Clean Nigeria Campaign

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, has called for enhanced collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to strengthen the Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign and drive efforts toward ending open defecation by 2030.

Utsev made the appeal during an advocacy visit to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Dr. Didi Walson-Jack, in Abuja on Tuesday.

He praised the HoCSF for her previous role as a Permanent Secretary and Sanitation Ambassador in the Ministry, commending her continued support for sanitation initiatives. He noted that 148 Local Government Areas have attained Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, with Jigawa remaining the only certified ODF state, while Katsina follows closely with 33 out of its 34 LGAs now ODF.

The Minister emphasized the importance of infrastructure and behavioural change, calling for sanitation facilities across government offices, integration of sanitation into institutional assessments, and enforcement of a “No Open Defecation” policy in the civil service.

In response, Dr. Walson-Jack reaffirmed her office’s support for the campaign and highlighted a new Policy Protocol on sanitation in Federal Secretariat buildings, currently under review. The policy aims to enforce sanitation standards and improve toilet access, particularly for persons with disabilities.

She also cited the recent upgrade of reception areas and toilet facilities in the Federal Secretariat as part of ongoing efforts to uphold sanitation standards in public buildings.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from both the Ministry and the Office of the HoCSF, including Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and the National Coordinator of the Clean Nigeria Campaign.