By Lawal Gwanda
Local Government Councils in Katsina State have been charged to ensure objectivity, transparency and accountability in the implementation of their budgetary provisions.
The charge was given by Katsina State Special Adviser on Local Government Inspectorate, Hon. Lawal Rufa’i Safana, during the commencement of the 2027 Local Government Budget Defence Exercise currently ongoing at the Conference Hall of the State Ministry for Local Government and Emirate Affairs.
The exercise under the office of the Director Budget Alhaji Babangida Aminu Mashi which commenced three days ago and is expected to last for one week, had Sabuwa, Dandume, Funtua, Faskari and Bakori Local Government Areas as the first batch to defend their budgets on Monday, 19/10/2026
Other LGAs that defended their budget on the second and third day of the exercise include: Kankara, Danja, Malumfashi, Kafur, and Musawa on Tuesday, 20/10/2026, while Mai’Adua, Zango, Matazu, Sandamu and Baure defended theirs on Wednesday, 21/10/2026
Hon. Safana said the exercise was an opportunity to ascertain whether projects captured in the 2026 budget were implemented accordingly or otherwise.
He said: “This exercise is an opportunity for us to look back and review the 2026 budget of the Local Government Councils, which has just three months left to expire. We will check to see whether the projects outlined in it were implemented properly or not.”
The Special Adviser expressed satisfaction with the way the state government releases funds to LGAs for the implementation of their budgets.
He added that as the LG Inspectorate saddled with the responsibility of monitoring projects executed by LGAs, a new chapter would begin to ensure that this budget is implemented according to due process and appropriately.
He gave a Seven-Day ultimatum to the 34 LGAs to submit all completed projects captured in the 2026 budget that have not been paid for.
The directive also indicated that any Contractor who executed a project in any Local Government in 2026 and has not been paid should submit, within seven days, evidence of non-payment to the Department.
The submission of such records, according to the directive, must be through the office of the Resident Inspectors for conveyance.
He said: “The reason why we are doing this is that we want to monitor and ensure that this budget that is about to expire, whatever was done in it, and the way funds entered the Local Government, that the person who did the work has been paid. We do not want to cross into December with liabilities.”
Hon. Safana further said “What we will not accept is for any Local Government to cross over into 2027 with debts.”
In his remarks, the State Local Government Auditor General, Alhaji Shua’ibu Aliyu, said spending must be done with caution.
He expressed hope that this year would provide an opportunity for improvement, particularly on the issue of the amount appropriated to each sector.
