By Demola akinyemi

The Kwara State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to an inclusive and participatory budgeting process, assuring residents that their views and priorities will be considered in the preparation of the 2027 fiscal year budget.

The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Mamman Saba Jibril, gave the assurance in a keynote address at a Citizens Engagement on Inclusive Budgeting held as part of preparations for the 2027 budget.

Jibril, who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Abdulganiyu Shuaib Yitta, said the engagement was a critical step towards deepening democracy and strengthening participatory governance in the state.

He said the purpose of the engagement was to harvest the views, aspirations and priorities of citizens and ensure that the 2027 budget reflected the needs and realities of communities across Kwara.

According to him, governance thrives when government listens to its people, engages them and incorporates their views into policies and programmes that affect their lives.

He said the consultation would provide an opportunity to identify pressing needs, highlight opportunities and align government initiatives with the realities of the people.

“By engaging stakeholders, traditional rulers, NGOs, and grassroots representatives, we are building a budget that is people-driven, inclusive, and responsive,” he said.

The SSG commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for institutionalising the consultative process as part of the state’s budget preparation.

He said the administration had demonstrated its commitment to transparent, accountable and participatory governance, stressing that the citizens’ engagement was a deliberate effort to strengthen the bond between government and citizens.

Jibril said discussions would focus particularly on the completion of ongoing projects capable of positively impacting the lives of residents.

He added that the administration would seek to consolidate gains in economic growth, infrastructure development, welfare, youth empowerment and agricultural development.

He urged participants to make meaningful contributions by identifying challenges, particularly infrastructural deficiencies requiring government intervention.

The SSG assured participants that every input gathered during the engagement would be carefully considered in the formulation of the 2027 budget.

“Your voice is not just about figures on a spreadsheet; it represents the lives of our people, the future of our children, and the prosperity of our communities,” he said.

In her address. The Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Dr Mary Ronke Arinde applauded Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq for institutionalising participatory budgeting and ensuring that voices of the citizens remained central to government planning and resource allocation.