By our Correspondent
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has flagged off the second statewide ward-level town hall meetings for the collection of citizens’ inputs into the preparation of the 2027 Katsina State Budget.
The Governor performed the flag-off at Radda Ward, Charanchi Local Government Area, on Saturday, while similar town hall meetings were held simultaneously across all 361 political wards in the state’s 34 Local Government Areas.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, Radda described the exercise as another major milestone in his administration’s commitment to placing citizens at the centre of governance through participatory budgeting.
“Today’s exercise is not merely another public meeting. It is a continuation of the promise we made that governance must begin by listening to the people. Every community deserves to be heard, and every voice matters in shaping the future of Katsina State,” the Governor stated.
The Governor recalled that the first ward-level budget consultations, conducted ahead of the 2026 Budget, transformed the relationship between government and citizens by giving thousands of residents the opportunity to directly influence government policies and development priorities.
“For the first time in our state’s history, citizens across all 361 wards participated directly in shaping government priorities. That exercise strengthened our resolve to place the people at the centre of governance,” he said.
The Governor noted that recommendations generated during the maiden consultations have continued to shape government interventions. Many of the identified projects are already being implemented across critical sectors, including road infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, education, water supply, youth empowerment, social protection, community development, and security support.
“We are currently implementing numerous projects captured in the 2026 Budget, while many recommendations from last year’s consultations are still being implemented. Although resources are limited and the needs of our people continue to grow,” Governor Radda disclosed.
“I assure you that no genuine request is ignored. Where immediate implementation is not possible, such requests remain under consideration for subsequent budgets and other government interventions,” he assured.
He Radda also explained that development is a continuous process, noting that while government may not be able to satisfy every request within a single budget cycle, it remains committed to investing in projects that genuinely improve the lives of the people rather than initiatives conceived without community input.
The Governor stressed that sustainable development can only be achieved when communities actively participate not only in identifying projects but also in monitoring their implementation to ensure accountability, transparency, and value for public resources.
“This participatory budgeting process strengthens transparency, promotes accountability, builds trust between government and citizens, and ensures that public resources are directed towards projects that truly reflect the priorities of our communities,” Governor Radda said.
He urged residents across the state to actively participate in the consultations by presenting projects and programmes that genuinely reflect the needs and aspirations of their communities.
“I encourage every participant to speak freely, honestly, and responsibly. Let your recommendations reflect the genuine priorities of your communities. Let us prioritise projects that will have the greatest impact on education, healthcare, agriculture, water supply, economic empowerment, youth development, women empowerment, security, and other critical sectors,” he added.
Governor Radda also appealed to youths, women, persons living with disabilities, farmers, traders, artisans, and community associations to take full advantage of the exercise, describing their contributions as vital to shaping the future of Katsina State.
“Government alone cannot build the future we all desire. Development requires partnership, trust, patience, and, above all, the active participation of every citizen,” the governor emphasised.
He further called on Community-Level Committees, Community Development Officers, Community Learning Officers, Community Support Officers, traditional rulers, local government councils, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to ensure that the consultations are conducted peacefully, transparently, fairly, and inclusively.
“Every opinion must be respected, every community must be heard, and every recommendation must be carefully documented,” he charged.
The Governor commended the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, led by the Honourable Commissioner, Hon. Malik Anas, and the Community Development Programme (CDP), under the leadership of Dr. Kamaludeen Kabir, for successfully coordinating the statewide consultations, describing the initiative as another important step towards building a more inclusive, prosperous, and people-driven Katsina State.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Malik Anas, noted that the administration made history last year as the first to conduct budget consultations in all 361 wards of Katsina State, and that many of the recommendations gathered are already being implemented in education, healthcare, water, agriculture, and rural infrastructure.
Alhaji Anas stressed that every recommendation received will be documented, analyzed, and incorporated into the state’s planning framework based on available resources and government priorities, in line with the administration’s vision of planning with the people and for the people.
The Commissioner urged participants to focus on impactful and realistic projects that will improve quality of life, and called on all citizens to continue supporting the policies and programmes of the Radda administration for a more prosperous and inclusive Katsina State.
Equally speaking, the Coordinator of the Community Development Programme (CDP), Dr. Kamaludeen Kabir, said the Community Development Programme office firmly believe that sustainable development can only be achieved when communities actively identify their priorities and participate in shaping the decisions that affect their lives.
The Coordinator recalled that the first-ever ward-level consultations, conducted in 2025 ahead of the 2026 Budget, enabled thousands of citizens to contribute directly to government planning. According to him, the process has already produced several community-driven projects that are currently being implemented across different sectors of the state.
Dr. Kamaladdeen explained that for the 2027 Budget exercise, the Community Development Programme deployed its entire grassroots structure, including Community Development Officers, Community Learning Officers, Community Support Officers, and Community-Level Committees, to facilitate discussions, document community priorities, and ensure that every genuine recommendation is captured for integration into the state’s planning process.
Dr. Kamaladdeen expressed appreciation to Governor Radda for his confidence in the Community Development Programme and for his consistent support for initiatives that strengthen grassroots participation in governance.
He urged residents to actively participate in the consultations by prioritising projects that will improve education, healthcare, agriculture, water supply, infrastructure, economic empowerment, and other critical sectors.
The statewide consultations are being organised by the Katsina State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in collaboration with the Community Development Programme (CDP) under the theme “Building Your Future IV.”
The exercise provides citizens across all 361 wards with the opportunity to directly shape the 2027 Katsina State Budget, reinforcing the Radda administration’s commitment to inclusive governance, transparency, accountability, and people-driven development.
The event was attended by the former Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Hon. Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji among other state executive council. (GSF)
