2019: Electorates advised to demand for WASH issues

AS political parties and their candidates begin electioneering campaigns for elective offices in the 2019 general elections, electorates have been advised to shun money politics but rather engage the parties and the candidates in provision of good water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH) in order to make life better for them.

The advice was given by the Bauchi State Coordinator of Network For Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), Maryam Iliya during an enlightenment campaign and rally tagged ‘Vote4WASH’ held in Bauchi on Tuesday at the Multi-purpose Sports centre.

She opined that rather than receiving monetary inducements from the political parties and their candidates for votes, the electorates should engage them in debates on how to make life better for them which she said supposed to be the main objective of governance.

ALSO READ: Ekiti, Osun election tribunal: APC’s senatorial ticket in Bauchi to Bulkachuwa suspicious ― PDP  

The NEWSAN Coordinator further stressed the importance of good water, good sanitation and hygiene in the promotion of good standard of living pointing out that anything other than that should be rejected by the people.

She also pointed out that receiving monetary inducement by the people will only lead to more hazards and poor standard of living which will in turn breed outbreak of diseases that will cost much more than the peanut received.

While explaining the aim of the campaign and rally as creating awareness among the people, Maryam Iliyasu declared that NEWSAN is an NGO that is non-partisan but concerned for the well being of the people through provision of WASH issue.

In his own speech, representative of People with Disability, Umar A. Umar agitated for disability-friendly WASH facilities in the state in order to enable people in their categories benefit and live a better life.

While reading out the ‘Citizens’ Manifesto’ Umar A. Umar demand that elected legislators and executives should provide water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in the annual budget that progressively increases WASH allocations and fund release every year to achieve the targets as contained in the state WASH policy and sector roadmap.

He further demanded that there should be provision for adequate funding for inclusive and sustainable clean water supply, sanitation services and functional hand-washing facilities in health care facilities, public places in communities and schools in Bauchi State in line with the targets of the state WASH policy sector roadmap.

Another demand is that there should be a reduction in barriers for the poorest, most marginalized and un-served in using and accessing water supply, sanitation and hygiene services in Bauchi State in line with the targets of the state WASH policy and sector roadmap.

Also, there should be accountability and transparency by providing timely access to information on budget and procurement processes, and by holding at least one public hearing meeting every year with the constituents to inform them on decisions relating to WASH that affects them.

The NEWSAN and the WASH Media team then went round Bauchi metropolis to create awareness among the people on their rights to demand for WASH issues.