Chairmen and representatives of eight local government areas in the Niger North Senatorial District have pledged to prioritise projects that directly impact residents in their 2027 budgets.
The commitment was made on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting on the preparation of the 2027 budget at the Multipurpose Hall of Niger State Polytechnic in Zungeru, Wushishi Local Government Area.
The council leaders said their proposed budgets would be based on available resources and current economic realities, with priority given to projects capable of delivering meaningful benefits to communities.
They also praised the Niger State Planning Commission for sustaining its stakeholders’ budget engagement programme over the past three years, noting that the initiative has created an opportunity for communities and local authorities to participate in government planning.
The council chairmen and representatives called for increased government intervention on state and federal roads, stressing that poor road conditions were negatively affecting transportation, economic activities and the wellbeing of residents.
They equally commended Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago for efforts to improve security in the area, particularly the deployment of three battalions to address insecurity.
Meanwhile, the Director of Local Government Budget and Planning, Hajiya Hauwa Musa, expressed concern over the limited involvement of some council chairmen in the preparation of their budgets.
According to Musa, budget directors sometimes prepare council budgets without adequately involving the political leadership, resulting in situations where some chairmen are unfamiliar with the details of their own budgets during screening exercises.
She urged council chairmen and budget officials to work closely together throughout the preparation process and emphasised the need for local government leaders to understand their revenue capacity before proposing projects and programmes.
Her remarks came ahead of the September 7 budget screening, during which the councils are expected to present and defend their respective 2027 budget proposals.
Earlier, the Chairman of Wushishi Local Government Area, Hon. Dr. Engr. Mohammed Ibrahim Lokogoma, said the meeting provided residents with an opportunity to contribute to decisions and ensure their needs were reflected in the budget.
He identified education, healthcare, women and youth empowerment, as well as environmental issues, as key areas requiring attention in the 2027 budget.
Representing the Chairman of the Niger State Planning Commission, Hon. Mustapha Ndajiwo, the Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Aishat T. Usman, said the engagement was designed to make the budgeting process more inclusive, participatory and responsive to the needs of the people.
Ndajiwo noted that the meeting was the third official stakeholder engagement held within one month, describing the consultations as a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to involving citizens in setting development priorities.
He added that the collaboration between the Planning Commission and the Ministry for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs was aimed at bringing government closer to the people by incorporating residents’ expectations into annual plans and budgets.
He further disclosed that the 2026 budgets of all local government councils in the state had been harmonised and converted to International Public Sector Accounting Standards, IPSAS, in line with the six segments and 54 digits of the National Chart of Accounts.
BACKSTORY:
Local government councils in Niger State are preparing their 2027 budgets through stakeholder engagements aimed at giving residents a voice in development planning. The latest meeting saw leaders from eight councils in Niger North pledge to focus on projects that directly improve the lives of their communities.
