A coalition of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) stakeholders in Bauchi State has recommended the creation of a dedicated levy on businesses and institutions operating within the state to shore up financing for water and sanitation projects.
This initiative was among the key outcomes of the 2026 State WASH Joint Sector Review, a three-day gathering held from May 12 to 14 at Hazibal Suites in Bauchi. The event brought together representatives from various government bodies, local councils, development partners, civil society groups, private sector players, traditional and religious leaders, academia, media, and community organizations.
The final communiqué from the meeting called for the prompt establishment of a WASH Fund Basket, along with a donor roundtable to attract additional resources. Participants acknowledged that while strides have been made in expanding water supply and promoting sanitation and hygiene, the sector continues to grapple with insufficient funding, poor maintenance practices, low functionality of facilities, climate vulnerabilities, and unequal access to services.
They urged the Bauchi State Government to treat WASH as a critical public health and development priority through enhanced budgetary allocations, robust policy implementation, and sustained political will. Specific demands included the finalization of the Water Regulatory Commission and the Small Towns Water Agency under the Ministry of Water Resources, as well as the full corporatization of the Bauchi State Urban Water and Sewerage Corporation to boost efficiency and service delivery.
The communiqué also emphasized the need for stronger coordination and accountability among ministries, departments, and local councils in executing WASH programs. It called for revitalizing the WASH Media Network to intensify public awareness campaigns on hygiene and sanitation, and urged traditional and religious leaders to spearhead community-level efforts to achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) status across all local government areas.
Key priority actions for 2026–2027 include increasing the WASH budget, rehabilitating non-functional water schemes, scaling up hygiene behavior change campaigns, and accelerating Community-Led Total Sanitation programs. Stakeholders also set a target to reduce the state’s ODF reversion rate from 15% to 5% within one year. Additional commitments involve strengthening WASH data management systems, integrating climate resilience and disability inclusion, and promoting WASH interventions in schools and healthcare facilities.
To ensure accountability, quarterly progress review meetings will be held, and annual sector performance reports will be published. The communiqué was adopted on May 14, 2026, and signed by representatives from the Ministry of Water Resources, State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Bauchi State Urban Water and Sewerage Corporation, UNICEF, WaterAid, civil society groups, and media organizations.