Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has launched the second round of statewide ward-level town hall meetings aimed at gathering citizens’ input for the preparation of the 2027 budget, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to inclusive governance and participatory budgeting.
The exercise was flagged off on Saturday at Radda Ward in Charanchi Local Government Area, while similar consultations took place simultaneously across all 361 political wards in the state’s 34 local government areas.
The consultations, organized by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in collaboration with the Community Development Program under the theme “Building Your Future IV,” are designed to give residents across all 361 wards a direct role in shaping the 2027 Katsina State budget.
Speaking at the event, Governor Radda described the consultations as a continuation of his administration’s promise to ensure governance is driven by the needs and aspirations of the people.
“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,” he said.
The Governor recalled that the maiden ward-level consultations ahead of the 2026 budget marked a major shift in governance by allowing residents across the state to directly influence government policies and development priorities.
He noted that many of the recommendations from the previous consultations had already been implemented through projects in road infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, education, water supply, youth empowerment, social protection, community development and security support.
While acknowledging the state’s limited resources, Radda assured residents that all genuine requests would be considered.
“Where immediate implementation is not possible, such requests remain under consideration for subsequent budgets and other government interventions,” he said.
Governor Radda stressed that sustainable development requires active community participation not only in identifying projects but also in monitoring their implementation to ensure transparency, accountability, and value for public funds.
He urged residents to prioritize projects in education, healthcare, agriculture, water supply, economic development, security, and youth and women’s empowerment during the consultations.
The Governor encouraged youths, women, persons with disabilities, farmers, traders, artisans, and community associations to participate actively, describing their contributions as vital to shaping the state’s future.
He directed traditional rulers, local government councils, community committees, and civil society organisations to ensure the consultations are conducted peacefully, transparently, and inclusively.
The Governor commended the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and the Community Development Program (CDP) for coordinating the statewide exercise.
Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Malik Anas, said the government made history by conducting consultations in all 361 wards ahead of the 2026 budget, adding that many of the recommendations had already been translated into development projects.
He assured participants that submissions from this year’s consultations would be carefully documented and incorporated into the 2027 budget framework, subject to available resources and government priorities.
Also speaking, the Coordinator of the Community Development Program, Dr. Kamaludeen Kabir, said the initiative reflects the administration’s belief that sustainable development can only be achieved when communities actively participate in identifying and prioritizing projects.
He disclosed that Community Development Officers, Community Learning Officers, Community Support Officers and Community-Level Committees had been deployed across the state to facilitate discussions and document community needs.
