Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has reaffirmed his commitment to community-driven governance by holding a town hall meeting in his hometown of Radda Ward, Charanchi local government area, as part of the state’s inclusive 2026 budget preparation process.
The event, conducted virtually and linked to similar sessions across all 361 wards in the state, provided residents with a platform to present their development priorities directly to the Governor and receive immediate feedback.
“We are here to listen, but we must also be honest with ourselves, development must begin with our grassroots communities,” Governor Radda told participants, emphasising that the ward-level consultations represent a decisive shift from traditional top-down budgeting.
Rejecting the notion of the government guessing citizens’ needs from behind office desks, the governor stressed the importance of authentic public engagement.
“We want the people to speak for themselves. That is the only way to build a responsive and realistic budget,” he said.
Addressing the balance between community demands and fiscal constraints, Radda noted, “Government cannot do everything at once. We will listen carefully and select the most urgent and impactful projects for each community.”
He assured residents that their contributions would be documented and forwarded to the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and the Community Development Programme for integration into the state’s 2026 budget framework.
“This is not politics, this is governance. We are here to plan together and build together,” the governor declared, pledging to maintain transparency and participatory decision-making.
The meeting drew robust participation from traditional leaders, youth groups, women’s associations, farmers, teachers, and other stakeholders. Similar engagements are taking place simultaneously across Katsina State to ensure that every ward’s voice is heard in shaping the coming year’s budget.
