Governors Urged To Emulate Radda On Community-driven Development

The coordinator of the Katsina State Community Development Programme (CDP), Associate Professor Kamalludeen Kabir, has called on state governors across Nigeria to adopt Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s community-driven development model.

He described it as an effective approach to grassroots governance and public service delivery.

During a media parley, the coordinator said the CDP had transformed development planning in Katsina by allowing communities to identify, prioritise and execute projects that directly address their needs.

According to him, the programme introduced by Governor Radda shortly after assuming office, had empowered communities in all 361 political wards of the state to take ownership of development through structured community participation.

He explained that the governor established three implementation structures comprising a State Steering Committee, a Joint Planning Committee and Community Development Committees in every ward to oversee planning and execution of projects.

The coordinator said the state also deployed 1,083 community officers—three personnel in each ward—to work with traditional rulers, councillors, women, youths, persons with disabilities and other stakeholders in identifying community priorities.

He revealed that the state government released N10 million to each of the 361 wards, amounting to N3.61 billion, to enable communities undertake minor development projects without bureaucratic delays.

According to him, the initiative has so far led to the renovation and rehabilitation of more than 3,900 public facilities, including schools, primary healthcare centres, water supply facilities, drainage systems and solar-powered street lights.

“As of last month, the 361 communities have renovated and repaired over 3,900 government facilities. This demonstrates what people can achieve when they are given the opportunity to determine their development priorities,” he said.

The coordinator noted that the programme has also changed the state’s budgeting process by ensuring citizens participate in deciding projects to be included in annual budgets.

He said all 361 wards held town hall meetings whose recommendations were incorporated into the 2026 budget, adding that Governor Radda has directed another round of consultations to capture community priorities for the 2027 Appropriation Bill.

He explained that the approach has improved transparency, strengthened community ownership of public assets and enhanced the inclusion of women and persons with disabilities in governance.

The coordinator also said the programme has improved the targeting of government interventions, as communities now identify genuine beneficiaries for agricultural, business and social support programmes based on local knowledge.

Citing an example, he said one community requested the training of plumbers instead of constructing additional infrastructure, leading to the emergence of more than seven trained plumbers who now maintain local water facilities.