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By Abdulsalami Abdulfatai, Sokoto
Sokoto State Governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu, on Sunday outlined the framework for the state’s 2026 budget, pledging a fully inclusive, citizen-driven fiscal plan that captures the priorities of residents across all 23 local government areas.
The budget framework was presented at the 2026 Citizen Town Hall Budget Discussion, organised by the State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and held at the Sultan Maccido Institute for Quranic and General Studies, Sokoto.
The town hall continues the administration’s push for open governance and follows commitments made at the start of the Aliyu administration to increase transparency and rebuild public trust after years of criticism over opaque budgeting.
In his welcome remarks, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Abubakar Mohammad Zayyana, described the meeting as “the grand finale of citizen engagement on the 2026 budget,” noting that the consultations introduced this year were part of broader reforms to align Sokoto with national and international best practices, including the Open Government Partnership (OGP) standards.
Governor Aliyu, elected in 2023 on a platform of restoration, accountability and infrastructure renewal, said the wide-ranging citizen consultations had produced “concrete aspirations that will power our development agenda in 2026.”
Representing the Sultan of Sokoto, the District Head of Wurno, Alhaji Kabir Alhassan, commended the government’s ongoing investments in roads, schools and primary healthcare. He urged the state to extend the proposed new minimum wage scheme to traditional rulers, saying stagnant allowances were crippling many palace staff and district heads.
Development partners also weighed in. Officials of UNICEF praised the administration for increasing budgetary allocations to child health, nutrition, WASH services and education—sectors where Sokoto consistently posts some of Nigeria’s lowest indicators. They stressed that sustained funding was critical to reversing high malnutrition rates and the large population of out-of-school children.
Civil Society Organisations, led by Dr Abdulrahman Umar, pledged to monitor implementation and ensure equity, noting that citizens “expect the dividends of democracy to reach every nook and cranny of the state.”
Women’s rights advocate, Dr Nafisa Alhassan, called for urgent revitalisation of the State Water Board, saying the persistent water scarcity in many communities imposes heavy burdens on women and undermines household productivity.
Ethnic minority groups also affirmed support for the administration. Speaking for the Igbo community, Chief Augustine Onumba described the Aliyu government as “a home for all,” citing its recent engagements with non-indigene communities.
A youth representative, Zayyana Adam, appealed for immediate rehabilitation of the State Sports Centre, warning that the facility’s prolonged neglect had weakened youth development and crime-prevention efforts.
Reacting to concerns from residents of Offa Road, a neighbourhood largely occupied by non-indigenes, Governor Aliyu promised that rehabilitation of the road would be prioritised—adding pointedly that the community must “support the government and vote in the coming general elections.” The remark underscored the political undercurrent surrounding recent town-hall engagements ahead of the 2027 polls.
Governor Aliyu closed by reaffirming his commitment to transparency, inclusiveness and data-driven governance.
“A responsible budget is what we owe our people. Together, we will make the development story of Sokoto come true,” he said.
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