By Hussaini Yero The Zamfara State Government has declared that the 2027 budget will be citizen-driven, in line with the adminis...
By Hussaini Yero
The Zamfara State Government has declared that the 2027 budget will be citizen-driven, in line with the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal’s commitment to inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance.
The Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Prof. Yahaya Zakari, stated this on Tuesday at the Zamfara Central Senatorial Zone Town Hall Meeting on the 2027 Budget Preparation, held in Gusau.
“This engagement reflects the commitment of the Governor to inclusive, transparent, and citizen-driven governance.
“The budget would be designed in such a way that it delivers services, projects, and hope to the people,” Prof. Zakari said.
He noted that governments across the world were embracing citizen-based budgeting because of its effectiveness in addressing the socioeconomic challenges facing society.
“When citizens are involved, budgets address real needs, promote transparency, and strengthen accountability,” he added.
In a move to address grassroots needs, Zakari listed youth and women empowerment among the key priority areas of the 2027 budget, alongside peace and security, education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, water, and social services.
According to him, the town hall meeting provided a platform for dialogue and an opportunity for the government to listen to citizens and for the people to express their views.
“Your ideas, observations, and priorities will directly shape the programmes and projects captured in the 2027 Budget,” the Commissioner maintained.
He urged all Emirate Councils in the zone to forward their submissions to the Ministry on or before Friday, September 4, 2026, to enable the technical team to consolidate the inputs into the budget estimate.
“Let us engage constructively, with facts and with the unity of our dear state at heart. Your contributions will make a real difference,” he said.
Declaring the town hall meeting open, he commended the Ministry of Budget and Planning for the initiative.
The Governor, represented by the Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Bilyaminu Moriki, described the citizen engagement as a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to transparency and inclusive governance.
He urged the ministry to sustain the initiative and ensure that inputs from the grassroots were properly captured.
Governor Lawal called on stakeholders to make meaningful contributions and observations during the deliberations.
“I urge you all to give meaningful contributions and observations that will help us achieve a people-oriented 2027 appropriation bill that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of our people,” the Governor said.
The town hall meeting, declared open by the Governor, brought together community leaders, youth and women groups, traditional rulers, and civil society organisations to deliberate on priority areas for the 2027 budget.
The meeting also drew strong reactions from participants in Gusau, many of whom identified youth unemployment, skills acquisition, and access to capital as urgent concerns of citizens.
In her summation, the Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hajiya Aisha Ibrahim, called for increased budgetary allocations to maternal healthcare, girl-child education, and small-scale business support to help women achieve economic independence.
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