The Gombe State Government has engaged citizens on the preparation of the 2026 Budget, reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance through active public participation in the state’s budgeting process.
Declaring the event open, the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau, who represented Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, said the administration had institutionalized a consultative process to ensure that every budget cycle begins with meaningful dialogue between the government and the citizens it serves.
Dr Jatau described the engagement as a vital pillar of participatory governance, noting that citizen involvement demonstrates the administration’s conviction that governance must be participatory, inclusive, relevant, and responsive to the people’s needs.
“An effective budget is not merely a financial document; it is a roadmap for delivering the aspirations of our people and a reflection of our collective priorities as a state,” he stated.
The Deputy Governor explained that the forum provided an opportunity for traditional leaders, women, youth, civil society organisations, and opinion leaders to make meaningful contributions that would shape the 2026 fiscal plan.
He highlighted the administration’s progress in fiscal responsibility, budget discipline, and public financial management reforms, noting that Gombe State continues to rank among the top states in transparency and ease of doing business.
Dr Jatau reaffirmed that the 2026 budget would consolidate ongoing reforms while deepening investments in key sectors such as education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, environment, and human capital development.
He urged participants to share their ideas and community priorities freely, promising that every contribution would be carefully reviewed and integrated into the final budget.
“Our government remains resolute in promoting fiscal prudence, expanding the revenue base, and ensuring that every naira spent delivers maximum value to the people of Gombe State,” he added.
The Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Mr Mohammed Abubakar Luggerewo commended Governor Yahaya’s administration for its prudent and inclusive approach to governance.
He described the consultative forum as ‘a critical stage in the budget process, ensuring that citizens’ voices are reflected in policy formulation and implementation.’
“Gombe State is well known nationally and internationally for prudent financial management, infrastructure development, and purposeful administration,” the Speaker said.
He promised that the House of Assembly would use its legislative instruments to ensure all inputs from the engagement are captured in the 2026 budget to promote transparency and accountability.
Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Aliyu Baba Manu, lauded the state’s progress in fiscal responsibility and pledged that the Assembly would ensure the outcomes of the forum receive due consideration in the final budget.
The Commissioner for Finance thanked participants for turning out in large numbers, noting that the state budget represented a collective vision and a framework for equitable and sustainable development.
He emphasised that the Yahaya administration remained committed to ensuring the budget process is transparent, inclusive, and responsive to citizens’ needs.
“Our goal is to ensure that the budget reflects the aspirations of our people—from rural villages to urban centres. This engagement allows us to hear directly from those who matter most: the people,” he said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Salihu Baba Alkali, described the forum as an avenue to deepen citizen participation in governance, emphasizing the Ministry’s commitment to fostering transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability in the budgeting process.
“A successful budget is one that reflects the needs and contributions of all members of the community. Your insights and feedback are invaluable in ensuring that resources are effectively utilised to improve the lives of our residents,” Alkali stated.
He encouraged participants to actively contribute to the discussions, stressing that the event was not merely about figures but about building a stronger, more responsive society.
The 2026 Citizens’ Budget Engagement reaffirmed the Gombe State Government’s commitment to participatory governance and prudent financial management.
The event brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, legislators, traditional rulers, youth representatives, civil society organisations, and development partners—all united by a shared goal of shaping a budget that reflects the collective aspirations of the people of Gombe State.
Victoria Ibanga