Sokoto govt to engage traditional rulers on development partners’ projects

Sokoto State Government has announced plans to periodically engage traditional rulers to identify community needs and ensure that interventions by development partners align with local priorities.

The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Development, Dr Bashir Muhammad Achida, disclosed this during the 2027 Budget Town Hall Discussion for the Sokoto East Senatorial District held in Wurno Local Government Area.

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Achida said the initiative would be coordinated by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Development to ensure that development projects address the actual needs of communities and prevent duplication of interventions.

He said the ministry was responsible for coordinating the activities of development partners and promoting the state’s economic development.

According to him, the government intends to strengthen collaboration with traditional institutions to ensure that development interventions are properly targeted.

“The idea is to ensure that their interventions align with the needs of the target communities and to avoid duplication and misplaced priorities,” he said.

The commissioner added that Governor Ahmed Aliyu had revamped the ministry to enable it to discharge its responsibilities effectively.

Achida described the town hall meetings as an important platform for citizens to contribute to the state’s budget preparation process, noting that community participation would help the government identify pressing development needs.

He also commended UNICEF and the European Union for supporting the budget consultation process.

Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Buhari Umar, urged participants to present the priority needs of their respective communities for consideration in the proposed 2027 budget.

Umar expressed satisfaction with the turnout and participation of traditional institutions, community leaders, civil society organisations, youth groups, women and persons with disabilities.

He said the government would organise a grand finale to consolidate the submissions gathered during the consultations.

According to him, the event would provide an opportunity to showcase the views already presented and obtain additional contributions to refine the draft budget before submitting it to the state executive for consideration.

The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria in Sokoto State and Chairman of Tambuwal Local Government Area, Alhaji Abba Shehu Tambuwal, commended Governor Aliyu for approving the initiative.

He described the consultation as a step towards ensuring that the budget reflects the development aspirations of residents across the state.

In his goodwill message, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by the District Head of Wurno, Alhaji Kabiru Chigari Alhassan, appreciated the state government for recognising the role of traditional institutions in governance and community development.

Earlier, the Chairman of Wurno Local Government Area, Alhaji Abba Isah Sadiq Achida, thanked the state government for executing development projects across local government areas.

Other participants included the Special Adviser on Economic Planning, Alhaji Abdullahi Ango Jabo; local government chairmen from the Eastern Zone; and representatives of women and persons with disabilities.

The town hall meeting forms part of the state’s consultations with stakeholders to gather citizens’ input ahead of the preparation of the 2027 budget.