Governor Dikko Radda assured residents that every genuine request submitted during the consultations would receive due consideration, even where immediate implementation is not possible.
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has launched the second statewide ward-level town hall meeting for the collection of citizens’ inputs into the preparation of the 2027 Katsina State Budget, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to participatory governance and people-driven development.
The governor launched the exercise on Saturday at Radda Ward in Charanchi Local Government Area, while similar consultations were held simultaneously across all 361 political wards in the state’s 34 Local Government Areas.
Speaking at the flag-off, Radda described the exercise as another milestone in deepening inclusive governance by ensuring that citizens actively participate in determining government priorities.
“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 said.
He recalled that the maiden ward-level consultations conducted ahead of the 2026 budget marked a historic shift in governance by allowing thousands of residents to directly influence government policies and development programmes.
According to him, many of the projects identified during the first consultations are already being implemented across key sectors, including road infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, education, water supply, youth empowerment, social protection, community development and security support.
Governor Radda assured residents that every genuine request submitted during the consultations would receive due consideration, even where immediate implementation is not possible.
“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 noted that sustainable development could only be achieved through active citizen participation, adding that communities must not only identify priority projects but also monitor their implementation to ensure transparency, accountability and value for public funds.
He urged participants to freely present projects that reflect the real needs of their communities, with emphasis on education, healthcare, agriculture, water supply, economic empowerment, youth and women development, security and other critical sectors.
Governor Radda also called on youths, women, persons living with disabilities, farmers, traders, artisans and community associations to take full advantage of the consultations, describing their contributions as essential to shaping the future of the state.
He further charged Community-Level Committees, Community Development Officers, traditional rulers, local government councils, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to ensure that the exercise remains peaceful, transparent, inclusive and credible.
The governor commended the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, led by Malik Anas, and the Community Development Programme (CDP) under Kamaludeen Kabir, for successfully coordinating the statewide exercise.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Malik Anas, said the Radda administration became the first in the state’s history to conduct budget consultations across all 361 wards, adding that many of the recommendations gathered during the maiden exercise are already being implemented.
He assured participants that every recommendation would be carefully documented, analysed and integrated into the state’s planning process based on available resources and government priorities.
Also speaking, the Coordinator of the Community Development Programme, Kamaludeen Kabir, said sustainable development could only be achieved when communities identify their priorities and participate directly in decisions affecting their lives.
He disclosed that the CDP had deployed its entire grassroots structure, including Community Development Officers, Community Learning Officers, Community Support Officers and Community-Level Committees, to facilitate discussions and ensure every community recommendation is captured for inclusion in the 2027 budget.
The statewide consultations, organised by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in collaboration with the Community Development Programme under the theme “Building Your Future IV,” are designed to give citizens across all 361 wards the opportunity to directly influence the 2027 Katsina State Budget.
The event was also attended by religious leaders, APC stakeholders, local government officials, community leaders, women, youths, and other dignitaries.
channel news
