By Lawal Gwanda
The Katsina State Ministry for Local Government and Emirate Affairs has directed the 34 Local Government Councils ro complete and submit their 2027 Budget Projections within the next two weeks.
The directive was given on Monday by the Commissioner of the Ministry, Malam Bishir Tanimu Gambo, during a Workshop held at the Conference Hall of the Katsina State Secretariat.
The workshop, organized under the Office of the Director of Budget of the Ministry, brought together Directors of Administration and Finance, Treasurers, and Budget Officers of the 34 LGAs.
Addressing participants, Malam Bishir Tanimu Gambo explained that the Ministry is targeting the passage of LGA Budgets by the end of November.
To achieve this, he stressed the need for LGAs to forward their budget projections unfailingly within the next two weeks.
“Whenever you find yourself in a position of responsibility, try to ensure that a little improvement, if not significant improvement, is achieved,” he advised.
In his speech, the Special Adviser on Local Government Inspectorate, Hon. Lawal Rufa’i Safana, expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the 2026 Budget.
“You have implemented fairly well. Mistakes normally happen when everything is new. Whatever you start, whatever you begin to enforce, whatever you begin to take seriously, it is normal to encounter one or two problems,” he said.
Hon. Safana assured participants that further improvements would be made due to the seriousness and commitment being demonstrated.
“We are doing our best to ensure that Officers at the Local Government level who are in charge of financial administration are also doing their best very well,” he added.
He further assured that every LGA now has clear records in its Department, Treasury, and main account regarding expenditures for the year 2026.
He charged them to ensure that the formulation of the 2027 Budgetary allocations is completed by the first week of October, as the Ministry is aiming for the passage of LGA Budgets by the end of October.
Also speaking, the State Auditor General for Local Government, Alhaji Shu’aibu Aliyu, emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability.
He pointed out that for the State to properly report its performance and ensure LGAs maintain sound accountability, the accounts of all 34 Local Government Councils are expected to be published online.
He shed more light on the need to upload the accounts online, stating that “publishing LGAs accounts online is like opening more windows of challenges.”
“We have to do a lot, especially on issues regarding Budget preparations, because there are Sub-Heads which we realized are recording over expenditure, which we are expected to manage,” he added.
In his welcome remarks, the Director of Budget of the Ministry, Alhaji Babangida Aminu Mashi appreciated the Ministry and the Office of the Local Government Auditor General for initiating series of Workshops and Seminars* on Budget preparations and Capacity Building for Budget Officers of Local Government Councils.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all 34 LGAs align with the State’s fiscal calendar and deliver transparent, accountable budgets that reflect the Radda Transformation Agenda and the needs of the people at the grassroots.
