In a bold step toward inclusive governance, Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, held a grassroots-focused town hall meeting at his country home in Radda Ward, Charanchi Local Government Area, as part of his administration’s commitment to participatory budgeting for the 2026 fiscal year.
The interactive forum, conducted virtually and on-ground, forms part of a sweeping initiative to engage residents across all 361 wards of the state, allowing communities to directly influence the state’s budgetary priorities.
“We are not here to sit in government offices and guess what the people need. We want the people to speak for themselves,” Governor Radda emphasized, rejecting traditional top-down approaches in favor of bottom-up development planning.
Governor Radda stressed that the exercise was not political, but a sincere governance effort to prioritize community needs over political convenience. “This is not politics—this is governance,” he declared, urging citizens to be realistic and unified in choosing pressing development projects.
During the session, diverse groups—including traditional leaders, youth, women’s associations, farmers, and teachers—voiced their concerns and aspirations, ranging from healthcare and education to agricultural support and infrastructure.
Governor Radda assured the participants that their contributions would be forwarded to the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and the Community Development Programme (CDP) for consideration in the 2026 budget draft.
“Let us be honest with each other—government cannot do everything at once,” he said. “But we will prioritize the most urgent and impactful projects.”
This initiative is running concurrently across all LGAs in Katsina State, marking what could be a landmark shift in how public finance is managed at the state level.
While the Governor’s town hall series signals an encouraging commitment to citizen engagement, Stone Reporters News cautions that dialogue alone does not equal development.
Governor Radda’s rhetoric is powerful and inspiring, especially in contrast to past administrations that often imposed budgets without local input. But this initiative will only have lasting impact if the consultations translate into real, trackable projects on the ground.
Furthermore, this process must not become a seasonal political ritual, especially in pre-election periods. With 2026 around the corner, it is essential that the Governor's administration is held accountable for the outcomes of these ward-level sessions.
---
🖊️ Compiled by the Stone Reporters News Editorial Desk
📍 Follow us on Facebook: Stone
🌐 Visit: stonereportersnews.com
📩 Email: info@stonereportersnews.com
Add comment
Comments