The Federal Government selected some States for special intervention by the UNICEF on Programme on Education, Health, Nutrition and Water Supply. Oyo State is one of the selected States for these UNICEF Programme. The Programme for Water Supply is under UNICEF – Assisted Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) Project.
The OYO RUWASSA commenced with the software components (Community Mobilization/Hygiene Education, Sanitation etc) in 1992 in the Ministry of Health and later moved to the Governor’s Office. The hardware components are Geophysical Survey, Drilling Operation, Platform construction, Pump Installation, Latrine construction. Drilling operation commenced on 23rd February, 1993.
This name (WATSAN) as a project was in existence until May, 2011 when it fully assumed the status of Agency when the name was changed to Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency. It was formally headed by project Director but now that was assumed an Agency status it is now headed by General Manager.
Our Vision
Our Mission
- To design, construct, rehabilitate, improve, maintain, support and regulate exploitation of underground water resources in the State to sustain the rural water supply programme.
- To promote, design, construct, improve, and sustain the State Rural Sanitation programme;
- To liaise with the Federal Government Ministries and Agencies in the design and implementation of programme and projects in the area of rural water supply and sanitation promotion and maintenance and the provision of rural infrastructure and any other hygiene related rural development activities.
- To define, encourage, support and coordinate any activity that will enhance community rural water supply, Sanitation and the provision of other hygiene related infrastructures and other rural development activities.
- To identify, involve and support local government authorities, community members, opinion and religious leaders and non-governmental organizations in the effective mobilization of the rural population for accelerated and sustainable rural development.
- To identify and implement rural programmes that would enhance the health and income generating activities in the rural areas as well as help to improve the quality of life and standard of living of the rural dwellers.
- To encourage the implementation of physical development plans at the community level in order to increase rural productivity and improve rural accessibility.
- To supervise and monitor, on a continuous and regular basis, the entire range of rural development activities carried out or supported by the Agency pursuant to this law.
- To commission and support studies and research projects that will facilitate the execution of the functions of the agency.
- To generally exploit the underground water resources for provision of community water supply and promote sanitation and hygiene technology and culture in the rural communities.
Our Objectives
- To increase access to potable water supply by provision of boreholes with durable hand-pumps and eventually eradicate faecal and water related diseases in our rural communities.
- To improve standard of living and increase productivity in rural areas.
- To increase access to proper waste disposal through promotion, construction, use and maintenance of low cost “sanplat” (sanitation platform) latrines.
- To promote behavioral changes with respect to water use, personal hygiene and efficient means of excreta disposal.
- To enable participating communities to operate and maintain their own installations through specially designed training and cost recovery schemes.
The State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RUWASSA) was formerly known as Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) project domicile in the Executive Governor’s office and under the chairmanship of Chief of Staff. The Agency is headed by the General Manager and has six (6) functional departments. The departments are:
(1) GENERAL MANAGER
The General Manager is the Chief Executive Officer of the Agency who execute the policies and decisions of the Agency and run its day to day activities.
He is also the secretary of the Steering Committee.
(2) PLANNING, MONITORING AND EVALUATION DEPARTMENT
This unit is responsible for the following:
- Pre-intervention survey/data collection on population served including sources of water supply and sanitation facilities;
- Chemical and bacteriological analysis of all water points;
- Computerization of drilling operations and latrine construction (Rig Information Management System – RIMS and Sanitation Information Management System – SIMS);
- GPS/GIS (Global Positioning System/Geographic Information System) Mapping of all the boreholes/latrines constructed by OYO RUWASSA.
(3) COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION/HYGIENE PROMOTION UNIT
- The unit is involved in the mobilization and enlightenment of communities on WATSAN activities so as to reduce the “government owned” syndrome thereby, having sustainable programme. Furthermore, the unit also encourages maintenance culture for infrastructures provided by the OYO RUWASSA;
- Training of Local Government personnel/communities in Hygiene Education and Eradication of guinea worm diseases.
(4) SANITATION DEPARTMENT
- The unit is responsible for the construction of Communal/VIP/Sanplat latrines;
- Establishment of manufacturing of slab-centre (Sani-centres), precast slabs etc;
- Training of community artisans in the construction of latrines and waste management.
(5) WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT
The unit is involved in the following:
- Reconnaissance and geophysical survey of proposed water points;
- Borehole drilling operation;
- Platform construction;
- Hand-pump/Submersible pump installation.
- The unit also gives technical assistance to Local Governments and communities in the areas of borehole rehabilitation and maintenance, alternative to boreholes e.g. construction of hand-dug wells, spring development, surface water impoundment, development of rain harvesting systems.
(6) FACILITY AND WORKSHOP MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT
- The unit does the maintenance of heavy and light equipment;
- Installation of workshop equipment;
- Repair and maintenance of hand-pumps, and
- Fabrication of spare parts by the use of lathe machine and other complementary machines.
(7) ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE AND STORE DEPARTMENT
- This unit is responsible for the general administration of the Project, liaises with the UNICEF, UNDP, GLOBAL 2000, NGOs, Local Governments for the implementation of WATSAN Programme;
- Collaborates with other Water Agencies/State Water Corporation/Department of Rural Development etc so as to avoid duplication of efforts;
- Liaises with the State Guinea worm Eradication Task Force in the eradication of guinea worm disease in the Sate;
- Ensures prudent financial and material management of the State OYO RUWASSA.
- There shall be appointed from among the career officers a General for the Agency. A person to be appointed as the General Manager shall possess qualifications with basis in Water Resources, Engineering, Hydro-Geosciences or any similar qualifications with knowledge and experience in rural water supply and sanitation technology.
- The General Manager shall be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Head of Service.
- The General Manager shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Agency who shall execute the policies and decisions of the agency and run its day to day activities.
- The General Manager shall also be the Secretary of the Steering Committee.
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