Water resources ministry begins organizational realignments as new ministers commence duty on Monday 

By Yange Ikyaa

The federal ministry of water resources and sanitation has expressed its renewed commitment to implementing changes in the its name and organisational structure, following the redesignation of the ministry and the introduction of the office of honourable minister of state by the presidency.

The permanent secretary of the ministry, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, stated this after an emergency ministerial management meeting convened to prepare for the assumption of duty of the two ministers appointed to oversee the ministry’s operations.

Engr. Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev has been named the minister, while Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo will serve as the minister of state. Both ministers are scheduled to commence work on Monday, August 21, 2023.

The permanent secretary said the ministerial transition team had been mandated to collaborate and plan for the smooth integration of the incoming ministers. Furthermore, departments and Units of the ministry will provide comprehensive reports and publications about their plans, programmes, ongoing projects, and global events, serving as valuable resources for the new ministers.

Mrs Walson-Jack said the ministry’s staff, affiliate agencies and development partners would also be formally notified of its new name, which reflects a substantial part of the work of the ministry under the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Programme, and the Clean Nigeria: Use The Toilet Campaign.

She added that the legal unit of the ministry will ensure that all contracts and statutory documents accurately reflect its new name.

According to a statement issued at the weekend by Mrs Funmi Imuetinyan, who is the head of press and public relations unit in the ministry, the new changes include providing appropriate office accommodation and re-branding of the ministry’s official stationery, communication materials, and IT infrastructure.

Mrs Walson-Jack commended the dedication of the management team of the ministry, while urging the ministry’s union leaders to work closely with the management to support the new administration.