As part of efforts to ensure hygienic environment, Ogun State Commissioner for Environment has charged Directors of Water and Environmental Sanitation (DWES), across the 20 Local Government Areas, to work smartly in preventing and protecting the people against diseases and environmental disasters.
Mr. Oresanya, while addressing the Directors at a meeting in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said sanitation officers were trained to guard and protect human lives, urging them to brace up and synergise with their respective Local Government Chairmen, Ministry of Environment, Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) and Ogun State Waste Management Agency (OGWAMA), write reports and copy all necessary departments for proper documentation and handling of any challenges they might be facing in the discharge of their duties.
“The level at which you are now, you have to work smart and not just hard, your goal is to maximise your output from your minimum input. Sanitation is a daily routine that needs to be inspected by your team in every community. You are the first to alert the ministry if there is any wrongdoing, any offender that is not ready to comply, escalate by calling the attention of the Community Development Association (CDAs). You are protected under the law to seal up and prosecute any house without a toilet“, he said.
Also speaking, Senior Special Assistance to the Governor on Environment, who doubles as Chairman, Environmental Task Force, Alhaji Farouk Akintunde said officers need to be proactive in their duties, and carry the junior officers along, in order to get the desired results, promising to work with them for effective service delivery.
In his remarks, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Sam Oyeleye, who pointed out that communication with immediate community was important in achieving the local government goals for creating an ambience environment, said people were more conscious of the visibility and trust in sanitation offices in the past, advising the officers not to compromise in the discharge of their duties.
In their separate reactions, two of the Directors, Sanitarians Elizabeth Adeola and Titus Ajibade from Ijebu-North East and Ewekoro Local Government respectively, appreciated the Ministry for the clarion call, pledging to be committed to their responsibilities, towards ensuring healthy environment at all times.
