There are new calls for the adoption of the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach by all the 36 States and the FCT for the promotion of sanitation and attainment of the MDG target for Sanitation in Nigeria.

A communiqué made available to Daily Trust, on a recent workshop in CLTS by stakeholders in (CLTS) The establishment of a CLTS Technical Advisory Committee drawn from the National Task Group on Sanitation, States and LGA s for further development of the approach to respond to the peculiar challenges of Nigeria. The communiqué said that strengthening the capacities of WASHCOM and natural leaders identified to support their communities to ODF (Open Defecation Free) status and also facilitate CLTS in neighboring communities has the potential of supporting the scaling up of CLTS in Nigeria.

The communiqué further said that their most be a harmonized monitoring tools for CLTS at all levels to enhance information and experience sharing, adoption of the Draft Guidelines for Certification of Open Defecation Free (ODF) and Total Sanitation Community by all states and the FCT as minimum benchmark for the Certification process of Communities, ensuring the involvement of all relevant stakeholders like Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) and NYSC in the implementation of CLTS in Nigeria; as demonstrated in Osun State where the involvement of the NYSC assisted in successfully scaling up CLTS in the State as well as accentuate evidence-based advocacy at all levels of Government for political will and support.

Lastly, the communiqué said that UNICEF must intensify liaison with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals (MDG Office) to advocate for MDG funds for scaling up CLTS in Nigeria as well as develop capacity building of National Water Resource Institute to organize regular and customized short courses on CLTS towards building a critical mass of practitioners for scaling up CLTS in the country.