The stakeholders in Nasarawa State Western Zone have begged for more women empowerment and infrastructural development as the 2026 citizens’ budget begins.
Stakeholders from the western zone made their views known during the 2025 citizens’ budget town hall consultation for Nasarawa Western Zone, which was held in Keffi Local Government Area of the state.
A participant from Karu local government, Miss Blessing Amos, laments over the benefits their male counterpart received over them, such as the organized football competition for men in the zone, which is a form of youth empowerment.
“We, the female youth, are soliciting for more youth empowerment that would also benefit the women folks.”
Also, Mrs. Lucy Ezekiel speaks on the lack of access roads and Primary Health Care centres in places like PHC2 and PHC in Sabon Gida in Kokona LGA.
In his view, Mr. Allahnana Bawa, from Pandan in Karu Local Government Area of the state, said that the area was left behind in terms of infrastructure development, having heard what the government had budgeted for the infrastructure development in the 2025 budget.
Also in their submission, Mr. Emmanuel Gbaji and Nasak Bulus, from Toto local government area of the state, who, apart from appreciating the governor for ensuring the displaced Bassa were returned to their ancestral home said that Bassa’s communities were lacking government’s infrastructures such as Primary Health Care centres, schools and others.
They appealed to the government to provide Bassa’s communities in Toto local government area with security and social amenities.
Meanwhile, the commissioner of Finance, budget and planning, Munira Abdullahi, while declaring the citizen budget engagement open, said the goal of the government is to build a budget that truly reflects the priorities of the people.
The commissioner said that since the inception of citizens’ budget engagement in Nasarawa State, they have made significant progress in ensuring that budgeting is no longer a top-down affair but a people-centered process where citizens’ voices, needs, and aspirations inform and shape government planning and implementation.
“I’m proud to say that this shift is yielding remarkable results. In the 2024 engagement, many of the projects suggested by citizens were not only acknowledged but have been implemented or are ongoing.”
“As we gather for today’s consultation, I urge you to speak freely, share openly, and advocate strongly for your communities. This platform is useful for you to articulate the real needs of the people you represent,” she noted.