Sokoto: Citizens Urged to Make Impactful Inputs at 2027 Budget Town Hall Meetings
Sokoto: Citizens Urged to Make Impactful Inputs at 2027 Budget Town Hall Meetings
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
Citizens have been urged to make impactful inputs at the State 2027 Budget Town Hall meetings.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Bashir Muhammad Achida, made the call while launching the 2027 Zonal Budget Discussion organized by his ministry in Bodinga Local Government for the Southern Zone.
Dr. Achida said the initiative is in line with Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s policy of inclusive and open governance, where citizens determine what government delivers.
He noted that last year’s citizen consultations yielded results, with most community demands captured in the 2026 budget already executed or at advanced stages of completion before the end of the fiscal year.
The Commissioner to this end, announced that the next year’s town hall meetings will be extended to local government areas to enable citizens to have easy access to present their priority needs to the government.
In his address, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Tukur Bala Bodinga, described the initiative as complementary in justifying the responsibilities of members of the legislature.
The Speaker, represented by the Deputy Chief Whip and member representing Yabo Constituency, Abubakar Shehu Shamaki, praised the commitment of the executive in the implementation of this year’s budget and pledged a prompt legislative process on next year’s proposed budget.
Speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Buhari Umar, noted that the whole essence of citizens’ consultation in budgetary provisions was to ensure inclusivity, ownership and transparency.
He assured that all the views collected during the town hall meeting will be useful.
In his address, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Sokoto State Chapter, Alhaji Abba Shehu Tambuwal, described the Budget Town Hall as a golden opportunity for citizens to present their views and needs directly to the government for execution.
In his speech, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by the District Head of Sifawa, Alhaji Abdullahi Sa’idu, assured of the traditional rulers’ support to the government in delivering for its people.
Delivering his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, Comrade Bello Gwadabawa, emphasized the need for participants to present the priority needs of their people.
Other speakers at the meeting included the representative of the women group, Dr. Nafisa Gurori, and that of People Living with Disabilities, Murtala Bala, among others.
The event was attended by traditional and religious leaders, as well as youth and women groups.
