Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
Sokoto State Government has announced plans to extend its 2027 budget town hall meetings to local government areas across the state, in a move aimed at bringing budget planning closer to the grassroots and ensuring that citizens’ development priorities receive greater attention.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Bashir Muhammad Achida, disclosed this during the launch of the 2027 Zonal Budget Discussion for the Southern Zone, organised by his ministry in Bodinga Local Government Area.
Achida said the initiative was part of Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s commitment to inclusive governance, transparency and accountability, stressing that citizens must have a meaningful role in determining how public resources are allocated.
He urged residents to take advantage of the consultations by identifying pressing community needs and making constructive submissions that would guide the preparation of the 2027 budget.
“The essence of these consultations is to ensure that government plans reflect the actual needs and aspirations of the people. Citizens must therefore come forward with clear and impactful proposals that can translate into tangible development in their communities,” he said.
The commissioner recalled that consultations conducted ahead of the 2026 budget had produced encouraging results, claiming that most of the demands submitted by communities had either been implemented or were at advanced stages of completion before the end of the fiscal year.
He said extending the meetings to local government areas would eliminate barriers to participation, particularly for rural dwellers who might otherwise find it difficult to attend zonal consultations.
According to him, the expanded consultations would provide opportunities for women, youths, persons with disabilities, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to influence government priorities in critical sectors, including education, healthcare, agriculture, water supply and infrastructure.
The Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Tukur Bala Bodinga, described the exercise as an important platform for strengthening democratic representation and complementing the constitutional responsibilities of elected lawmakers.
Represented by the Deputy Chief Whip and member representing Yabo Constituency, Abubakar Shehu Shamaki, the Speaker commended the executive’s efforts towards implementing the 2026 budget and pledged that the legislature would ensure prompt consideration of the proposed 2027 budget when presented to the House.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Buhari Umar, said citizen participation remained essential to promoting transparency, inclusiveness and public ownership of government policies and programmes.
He assured participants that their recommendations would be documented and considered in the budget preparation process, emphasising the importance of translating public submissions into practical development interventions.
Similarly, the Sokoto State Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Abba Shehu Tambuwal, described the consultations as an opportunity for residents to communicate their needs directly to government and advocate projects that would improve their living conditions.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by the District Head of Sifawa, Abdullahi Sa’idu, pledged the continued support of traditional rulers for government efforts to promote development and strengthen engagement with communities.
The Chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, Comrade Bello Gwadabawa, urged participants to prioritise their demands and ensure that submissions reflected pressing public needs.
Representatives of women’s groups and persons living with disabilities, including Dr. Nafisa Gurori and Murtala Bala, also contributed to the discussions.
The event attracted traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, youth and women groups, and other stakeholders, highlighting the growing emphasis on public participation in shaping Sokoto State’s development priorities for the 2027 fiscal year.
