The Zamfara State Government has organised a town hall meeting with stakeholders to gather inputs for the preparation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
The meeting, held under the leadership of the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Abdulmalik Gajam, was aimed at producing a citizen-driven budget.
Gajam said Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration is committed to transparency and accountability, adding that the thorough implementation of previous budgets was already evident in road, health and education projects across the state.
Traditional rulers, civil society organisations, youth and women’s groups attended the meeting to present their views.
The Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello, commended the initiative, describing it as an opportunity for citizens to present their needs and monitor implementation.
Traditional leaders urged the government to prioritise agriculture, provide young people with tools and funding, and redirect attention to farming as a means of ensuring employment and food security.
Civil society organisations called for an emergency intervention in the education sector to address the challenge of more than 800,000 out-of-school children in the state.
They also pressed for the inclusion of People Living With Disabilities in infrastructure design to make public buildings accessible.
Stakeholders further recommended investments in skills acquisition, women and children’s welfare, and wider efforts to reduce unemployment.
