Katsina Citizens’ Town Hall Meetings Reflect True Democracy, Says Joint Public Negotiation Council
From Mu’awiyya Bala Idris Katsina
The Katsina State Joint Public Negotiation Council has described the recently concluded Citizens’ Town Hall Meetings held across the state’s 361 wards as a true reflection of participatory democracy and a significant step towards improving the lives of people in rural communities.
This was contained in a statement signed and issued by the State Secretary of the Council, Comrade Muntari Abdu Rumah.
According to Comrade Rumah, the town hall meetings, organized to gather citizens’ inputs for the preparation of the 2027 Katsina State Budget, provided grassroots communities with an unprecedented opportunity to express their concerns, identify priority needs, and make recommendations for government intervention.
He stated that the initiative enabled people, regardless of their political affiliation or ideology, to come together and collectively identify the challenges affecting their communities while proposing practical solutions for inclusion in the state’s development agenda.
> “The Citizens’ Town Hall Meetings have provided a platform for people at the grassroots to freely express their concerns and contribute ideas that will shape government policies and programmes. This has strengthened the relationship between government and the people,” he said.
Comrade Rumah noted that the initiative has restored public confidence in government, as citizens can now see their contributions reflected in the state’s annual budget.
He explained that prior to the introduction of the town hall meetings, government ministries, departments, and agencies often prepared budget proposals without adequate consultation with the communities most affected by development challenges.
The Council Secretary recalled that the initiative, introduced about three years ago by the administration of Governor Dikko Umar Radda, has significantly improved the government’s ability to identify and address the pressing needs of rural communities.
He pointed out that several projects captured in the 2026 State Budget and currently under implementation were direct outcomes of citizens’ recommendations during previous town hall meetings. These projects cover critical sectors including water supply, education, healthcare, road infrastructure, and other essential public services.
Comrade Rumah commended the Radda administration for institutionalizing an inclusive budgeting process that gives ordinary citizens a voice in governance.
He called for the sustenance of the initiative, describing it as a vital tool for promoting transparency, accountability, and people-centered development.
He also urged community leaders and stakeholders to remain sincere and objective when presenting the needs and priorities of their communities, emphasizing that such honesty is essential to ensuring equitable and sustainable development across Katsina State.
