DRDI Calls for Stronger Citizen Participation in Kano’s LG Budgeting for Improved Service Delivery
By Mustapha Salisu
The Dispute Resolution and Development Initiative (DRDI) has called for greater citizen involvement in local government budgeting across Kano State to enhance transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance.
In a press statement issued to newsmen in Kano, the Executive Director of DRDI, Dr. Muhammad Mustapha Yahaya, emphasized that active citizen participation in budget processes is crucial for improving service delivery and ensuring that government projects reflect genuine community needs.
According to Dr. Yahaya, the call followed a research report by the organization which assessed how citizens in Tudun Wada, Karaye, Kano Municipal, Fagge, Bichi, and Dambatta Local Government Areas participate in budget formulation and how this influences service delivery at the grassroots level.
He explained that findings from the survey revealed that awareness of local government budget processes remains low, with many citizens lacking knowledge of governance structures and timelines for budget preparation.
“These gaps hinder meaningful participation, weaken accountability, and reduce trust between citizens and local authorities. Inclusive citizen engagement is, therefore, critical to reducing corruption, promoting efficiency, and ensuring equitable allocation of resources,” he stated.
To address these challenges, Dr. Yahaya recommended sustained awareness creation through community sensitization, capacity-building workshops on budget literacy, and simplified budget materials translated into local languages.
He also proposed the use of community-based communication channels such as town hall meetings, local media, and social platforms to share budget information and encourage real-time feedback from citizens.
The Executive Director further emphasized the importance of including women, youth, and persons with disabilities in budget discussions to ensure fair representation and inclusive participation.
Dr. Yahaya also urged local governments to institutionalize transparency by making budget reports accessible to the public and promoting open dialogues between officials and community members.
He recommended establishing co-creation initiatives where citizens can jointly identify and prioritize projects to deepen participatory governance at the grassroots.
In addition, he advised the creation of feedback and monitoring systems to ensure accountability in budget implementation, noting that regular discussions on budget performance would lead to better service delivery outcomes.
Dr. Yahaya stressed that these actions, if adopted, would promote good governance, accountability, and inclusive development in Kano State.
He reaffirmed DRDI’s commitment to advancing citizen participation in governance and called on policymakers, civil society organizations, and development partners to support initiatives that empower communities to play active roles in the budgeting process for a more transparent and responsive local government system.
