Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), women farmers and others stakeholders in Nasarawa have commended the state government for involving citizens in the budget process through its annual Citizen Budget initiative.
The stakeholders gave the commendation on Thursday in Lafia at a citizens’ budget town hall engagement organised by the Nasarawa State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
Speaking on behalf of the CSOs, Mr Japheth Terkaa said the initiative had demystified the budget process and given ordinary citizens a voice in determining government priorities.
“For many years, budgeting was seen as a purely government affair, but this administration has opened the process.
“Citizens can now interrogate, suggest and prioritise projects that directly affect them. This is true participatory democracy,” Terkaa said.
He said the initiative had also improved citizens’ understanding of how public funds were allocated and spent.
Mrs Jumai Yohana, representing Small-scale Women Farmers, commended the government for involving women’s groups in the budget process.
Yohana said the approach would promote inclusiveness and equitable distribution of development projects across the state.
She noted that most suggestions made during the 2025 citizens’ engagement had been acknowledged, with some already implemented and others ongoing in various communities.
Also, Pastor Olusugun Ajamu, representing the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim, representing Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), said the initiative was consistent with the principles of accountability and trust.
“Public funds are a trust from God and the people. Making the budget open and consulting citizens shows that the government recognises this trust and is ready to be accountable.
“We, as religious leaders, are close to the people at the grassroots. When you consult us, you are consulting the people,” they said.
Mr Ataka Akolo-Peters, Director of Budget, said Gov. Abdullahi Sule had directed the ministry to conduct the citizens’ town hall engagement annually before preparing the budget for the subsequent year.
He said the exercise enabled government to obtain direct input from citizens on projects and programmes they considered priorities.
“The government wants to know what the people actually need. That is why we gather people every year and, just like in the past, your suggestions will be captured in the 2027 budget,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr Ahmed Yakubu-Muhammad, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, said the engagement underscored the government’s commitment to citizen participation, transparency, accountability and inclusive governance.
He said the process was designed to ensure that citizens were informed and meaningfully engaged in decisions concerning the allocation and utilisation of public funds.
“Budget is much more than figures; it represents the intentions of government based on the needs of the people that require attention.
“So, citizens’ participation is helping government to understand human needs, with a view to ensuring that public resources are directed towards genuine priorities,” Yakubu-Muhammad said.
The commissioner assured participants that submissions made during the consultation would be reviewed and considered within the limits of available resources, government priorities and the state’s overall development objectives.
“Our goal remains to strengthen the budget process so that it is participatory, transparent and accountable, and responds meaningfully to the needs and aspirations of the people of Nasarawa State,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants included CSOs, women’s groups, faith-based organisations, non-governmental organisations, People Living With Disabilities, farmers, media practitioners and community leaders, among others. (NAN).