Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has commenced a fresh round of grassroots consultations across Katsina State, inviting residents in all 361 political wards to contribute directly to the formulation of the 2027 budget.
The initiative, officially launched on Saturday in Radda town, Charanchi Local Government Area, marks the beginning of a statewide ward-level town hall engagement designed to ensure that government spending reflects the priorities and needs of local communities.
Speaking at the inauguration, Radda described the exercise as a key component of his administration’s drive to deepen participatory governance and strengthen transparency, accountability and public ownership of development projects.
According to the governor, the consultations will take place simultaneously across the state’s 34 local government areas, providing citizens with an opportunity to recommend projects and programmes they consider most critical to their communities.
He noted that the exercise builds on the success of the first statewide consultation conducted in 2025, whose outcomes played a significant role in shaping the 2026 budget.
“This process reflects our belief that effective governance begins with listening to the people. Every resident has a stake in the development of the state and deserves the opportunity to influence decisions that affect their lives and communities,” the governor said.
Radda highlighted achievements recorded under the 2026 budget, citing investments in infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare delivery, education, water supply, social welfare, youth empowerment, security and community development.
Despite the progress, he acknowledged that financial constraints often limit the number of projects that can be executed within a single fiscal year. He, however, assured residents that genuine requests that could not be accommodated immediately would remain under consideration for future budgets and intervention programmes.
The governor urged participants to focus on projects capable of delivering broad and lasting benefits, particularly in sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, water resources, economic empowerment, environmental sustainability, women’s development, youth employment and security.
He further encouraged women, young people, persons living with disabilities, farmers, traders, artisans and community-based organisations to take an active role in the consultations, stressing that inclusive participation is essential to sustainable development.
Radda also called on community development officers, education and welfare officials, local government authorities, traditional institutions and civil society groups to ensure that the exercise remains peaceful, transparent, inclusive and properly documented.
He commended the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning as well as the Katsina State Community Development Programme for coordinating the consultations across the state, while also acknowledging the support of development partners, security agencies, religious and traditional leaders and other stakeholders.
Expressing optimism about the outcome of the exercise, the governor said the consultations would further strengthen collaboration between government and citizens while helping to direct public investments toward areas of greatest need.
He subsequently declared open the second edition of the statewide ward-level town hall meetings for the preparation of the 2027 budget.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Malik Anas, said Katsina made history in 2025 by becoming one of the few states to conduct budget consultations in all 361 wards.
He disclosed that several recommendations generated during the maiden exercise had already translated into projects and interventions across critical sectors, including healthcare, education, agriculture, water supply and rural infrastructure.
Anas assured residents that every submission received during the ongoing consultations would be carefully documented and reviewed as part of the government’s planning process, subject to available resources and development priorities.
He appealed to participants to present realistic and impactful proposals that would contribute meaningfully to the state’s development agenda while continuing to support the programmes and policies of the Radda administration.
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