The Katsina government has organised a town hall meeting across the 361 wards in the state to assess community needs and gather citizens’ inputs for the 2026 budget.

The town hall meeting was inaugurated on Thursday at Kankara LGA by Deputy Governor Faruq Lawal-Jobe.

Speaking at the event, the deputy governor said the initiative, approved by Governor Dikko Radda, was part of the state’s preparation for formulating the 2026 budget.

“This event marks a significant milestone that reaffirms the government’s  commitment to inclusive governance, citizen participation, and Community-Driven Development. Governor Dikko Radda’s administration believes that the best ideas for development often come from the people as they live with the realities we seek to transform.  

“The town hall meeting taking place in all 361 wards in the state represents more than just a consultation; it is part  of a broader vision to deepen democratic governance, promote accountability, and ensure that our budget reflects the actual needs of our communities. We are here to listen and to collaborate towards building a stronger, as well as a virile Katsina State together,” according to the deputy governor,” he said.  

Mr Lawal-Jobe further explained that the initiative, jointly implemented by the state’s Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and the Community Development Programme, was a deliberate policy designed to bring the government closer to the people and improve service delivery to citizens.  

According to him, the policy will provide residents with a platform to voice their challenges, outline their priorities, and suggest workable solutions. He pointed out that through this approach, they were implementing the core principles of CDD by empowering people to actively participate in shaping the interventions that affect their lives.  

The deputy governor added that in doing so, they were also fulfilling their obligations under the Open Government Partnership and reinforcing their transparency and accountability frameworks.  

Th Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Anas Malik, said the process was not just another meeting, but a strategic shift in the way they plan and budget.  

He added, “For too long, budgets were drawn  up with minimal consultation with the very people they are meant to serve. But today, we’re changing that narrative. We’re here because we believe the voices of our citizens matter.  

“We believe that development must begin at the grassroots, and we believe that for any budget to be effective, it must reflect the real priorities of the people.  

“The exercise will also help us differentiate between what the local government should address, what the state government should prioritise, and what should be escalated to the Federal government or development partners. We are also working closely with local government councils, CSOs, traditional institutions, and the media to ensure transparency and accountability throughout the process.”  

Earlier, the coordinator of the CDP, Kamaludeen Kabir, stated that the meeting across all wards of the state was a result of Radda’s unwavering commitment to participatory democracy and CDD.  

“This initiative did not just happen by chance; it is a bold policy decision by a governor who believes that development must begin with the people, and that communities must define their own priorities. His Excellency deserves our collective commendation for bringing this idea to life and institutionalising it as part of the state’s budgeting process,” Mr Kabir said.  

He told the participants that the 2026 budget would  be shaped by their priorities, challenges, and aspirations, from water to education, roads to markets, health centres to livelihood opportunities.

(NAN)