By Kazeem Waris
The Sokoto State Government has assured residents that their demands and development priorities will be considered in the preparation of the 2027 budget, pledging to use public consultations to guide decisions on projects, programmes and resource allocation.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Bashir Muhammad Achida, gave the assurance at the 2027 Budget Zonal Town Hall Discussion for Sokoto Eastern Zone, held in Kware Local Government Area, where stakeholders from various communities presented their needs and development proposals.
Achida said the exercise was designed to ensure that the state’s spending priorities reflected the realities of residents, rather than being determined solely by government officials.
He said: “The budget process must reflect the actual needs of the people. This consultation provides an opportunity for citizens to identify the challenges confronting their communities and recommend projects that will make a tangible difference in their lives.”
The commissioner assured participants that their written submissions and oral presentations would be reviewed and streamlined into the 2027 budget process, stressing that public input was essential to determining government priorities.
He commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for approving the zonal town hall discussions, describing the initiative as an opportunity to strengthen participatory governance and bring government planning closer to the people.
Achida also acknowledged the administration’s support for the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, saying the consultations would enable residents to contribute directly to decisions on public expenditure.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Buhari Umar Musheshi, said the town hall discussions were intended to deepen public understanding of budgeting and encourage communities to participate meaningfully in the development process.
Musheshi, who expressed satisfaction with the turnout of stakeholders from across the Sokoto Eastern Zone, urged participants to recognise the budget as a strategic instrument for planning, resource allocation and development.
He stressed the need to balance competing demands with available resources, noting that effective budgeting required the identification and prioritisation of projects capable of addressing the most pressing needs of the people.
In his remarks, the Sokoto South Local Government Chairman, Malam Ya’u Muhammad Danda, urged residents to demonstrate a sense of ownership by protecting public infrastructure and government facilities in their communities.
Danda also commended the ministry for incorporating contributions from previous budget consultations into the state’s budget, citing the move as evidence of the importance of sustained engagement between government and citizens.
The Chairman of Kware Local Government Area, Alhaji Ibrahim Attahiru Rugar Giwa, expressed appreciation to the state government for selecting the area to host the consultation and pledged the support of local government chairmen for the initiative.
He emphasised the need for cooperation between state and local governments to ensure that development interventions addressed the needs of grassroots communities.
Also speaking, the Sokoto State Chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, Comrade Bello Gwadabawa, praised participants for their willingness to contribute to the development of their communities.
He said sustained engagement between government and civil society could strengthen accountability and help ensure that public policies reflected citizens’ priorities.
Other participants included the Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic Planning, Alhaji Abdullahi Ango Jabo; the representative of the Sultan of Sokoto and District Head of Dundaye, Alhaji Bello Yakubu; a representative of women’s groups, Habiba Umar; and the Secretary of the Joint Association of Persons Living with Disabilities in Kware Local Government Area, Mudassir Ibrahim.
Their participation brought traditional institutions, women and persons with disabilities, alongside civil society representatives, into discussions on the state’s development priorities.
The consultation forms part of the Sokoto State Government’s efforts to broaden citizens’ participation in preparing the 2027 budget.
However, InsightwireNews reports that the impact of the exercise will ultimately depend on how far the demands presented by communities translate into funded projects and improved access to essential services, infrastructure and other development interventions.
For residents, the critical test will be whether the priorities raised at the town hall are reflected in the final spending plan and implemented to address the challenges facing their communities.
