Sensor Newspaper

Against speculations in some quarters that the Inter-ministerial Labour Coordinating Committee which is presently providing water and electricity in rural communities

has taken over the primary role of Akwa Ibom State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (AKRUWATSAN) the Chairman, Board of Directors of the agency, Elder Friday Iwok says their responsibility does not conflict with what inter-ministerial committee is doing in the state.
Speaking in an interview with our reporter recently Elder Iwok said AKRUWATSAN is established by law to ensure that there is water supply in rural communities, emphasising that the provision of mini water scheme in rural communities is under the supervision of AKRUWATSAN.
“AKRUWATSAN is the only specialised agency of government whose primary responsibility is rural water supply and sanitation in rural areas. Our responsibility does not extend to the state level because we have a water company which takes care of water supply in urban centres.
You would agree with me that the state government today is using inter-ministerial direct labour coordinating committee to provide basic amenities in rural areas, of which water is part of it. AKRUWATSAN is part and parcel of the project.
They supervise the project. I know that my General Manager is in the technical team of Inter-ministerial committee.
We are working together that inter-ministerial committee is not taking over our primary responsibility” he added.
Elder Iwok averred that his agency does not take the blame of inadequate water supply in urban centres, noting that his agency is determined to ensure that there is portable water supply in rural communities.
He maintained that AKRUWATSAN has no relationship with the ministry of Environment and Mineral resources in respect of sanitation, saying the sanitation aspect of the agency has to do with sensitising the rural populace on the use of water after toilet, keeping drinking water free of dirt, washing hands after use of toilets so that they do not contact water borne diseases.
On the challenges facing the organisation in discharging its statutory responsibility, Elder Iwok said it was dearth of equipment and ageing facilities, expressing the hope that the agency would procure new equipment since it has been appropriated for in the state 2010 budget.
Elder Friday Iwok who is eyeing Abak state constituency seat in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in the next democratic dispensation, told our reporter that he was determined to turn things around in the agency.

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