- Ahead of Nigeria's 2019 elections, WaterAid Nigeria and Connected Development (CODE) are collaborating for a good cause
- Both organisations are partnering to champion Nigerians rights to water and sanitation through the #Vote4WASH campaign
- This partnership has WaterAid and CODE taking to the grassroots the #Vote4WASH campaign
WaterAid Nigeria has entered into a strategic partnership with Connected Development (CODE), a non-governmental organisation, with the ultimate goal of strengthening the profile of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) related issues amongst political office aspirants and promote citizens' engagement in WASH governance.
Legit.ng gathered that the partnership will see WaterAid and CODE taking to the grassroots the #Vote4WASH campaign aimed at mobilising citizens to demand clean water, improved sanitation and hygiene services with the power of their votes, and sensitise political aspirants to recognise and fulfill the people's rights to water and sanitation.
The collaboration seeks to broaden and sub-nationalise the Vote4WASH campaign in Edo, Kano and Lagos states to make WASH a burning issue across the country - from citizens to the aforementioned political candidates.
On its part, CODE says it will mobilise citizens at the grassroots to demand for improved water, sanitation and hygiene services using their votes and engage key political aspirants to sign pledge cards as commitments for the provision of WASH services delivery.
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“We are aware that vote buying will be rampant during the 2019 general elections but for #Vote4WASH, we want to mainstream an issue, for which we can hold duty bearers accountable post-elections,” Hamzat Lawal, CODE's chief executive officer said at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, January 10.
Also speaking at the briefing, Saheed Mustafa, coordinator, policy and sector capacity at Water Aid Nigeria stated that, “it is important that key non-political actors mainstream the discuss on WaSH during this campaign season, as part of civic engagement for improved electoral processes in Nigeria.”
Access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services has remained low in Nigeria.
According to the UNICEF/WHO Joint Monitoring Programme, about 60 million people out of a population of nearly 190 million still lack access to clean water while only 33% have access to basic sanitation - meaning approximately 120 million 120 million people in Nigeria do not have access to toilet facilities.
Asked by Legit.ng about the possibility of the politicians not fulfilling their pledge, Lawal said: “CODE will mobilise citizens at the grassroots to compel office seekers to fulfill their pledge.”
WaterAid has worked in Nigeria since 1995, partnering with the government and people of Nigeria to ensure sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene while utilising and strengthening local capacity to adequately provide quality technical assistance for sustainable WASH delivery and development in Nigeria.
Through its Follow The Money initiative, CODE has ensured and promoted open government and improved WASH service delivery impacting tens of thousands of lives.
When successfully implemented, #Vote4WASH would enhance economic development, poverty reduction, education, health and more.
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Meanwhile, global advisory firm, Eurasia Group, has named Nigeria's forthcoming general elections as one of the world's “Top Risks 2019.”
The report which was released on Monday, January 7, stated that Nigeria faces its most fiercely contested election since the transition to democracy in 1999.
Nigeria's general elections was listed as number 10 in the list released by the respected New York-based organisation.
Other issues or countries listed in the report are the US-China trade war, US domestic politics, European populism, Mexico, Ukraine and Brexit.
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Source: Legit.ng
