Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum
By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The Borno State Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planing has convened an interactive town meeting to get inputs from its citizens for the 2022 budget in its efforts to entrench participatory democracy,.
The town hall meeting which has been introduced by Governor Zulum’s administration was the third since he assumed office present in 2019.
Speaking at the town hall meeting, which was held at the Multipurpose Hall, Government House Maiduguri, Governor Zulum said “democracy is the government of the people for the people, we are gathered here to get the contribution for the 2022 budgets for the people by the people”.
Represented by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prof Isa Marte Hussaini, said the budgets of the 2020 and 2021 had education and health as the highest sectoral allocations because education and health are two critical.sectors of development.
He added that infrastructural sector like transportation/ road was also critical, because it help the farmers to transport their food produces and goods from the villages to the markets while Agricultural sector is also one of the cardinal pillar of our 25 Development Plan and 10 year transformation agenda strategic initiatives.
Professor Husseini, however, noted that the government has also selected 9 local government areas, 3 each from the Borno South, Central and Northern Senatorial districts for urbanisation to curb rural-urban migration.
The Borno State Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economic Planing, Hon Adamu Alhaji Lawan Fanjumba said , in order to ensure participation of the citizens in the budget preparation and implementation, the ministry has constituted a budget working group.
” It is our sincere believe that at the end of this Town Hall meeting, the needs of the people will be reflected,”
” I want to assure you that the technical team will pen strictly take all your contributions in the preparation and implementation of the 2022 budget”, the commissioner added.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planing, Hajiya Maryam Shehu, said the world is becoming a global village due to sophiscation in technology, hence the need to carry along the electorates in the budget preparation, implementation and monitoring became necessary”.
” The organization of this town hall meeting is part of the reform of the ministry to involve the electorates to participate in the budget and governance process”, Shehu said
In their contributions, the community leaders represented by the District Head of Dushman, Alhaji Abba Kyari urged government to include the issue of employment, job creation and agriculture in the 2022 budget.
In his presentation, The Chairman, Borno State Council of the NUJ, Comrade Bulama Talba called for the involvement of the media and CSOs at various stages of budget preparation and implementations as well as strengthen budget tracking and performance..
“The union wish to register its profound appreciation and commendation to the Ministry of Finance, budget and Economic Planning for imbibing international best practices in its mandate, one of which is this gathering for citizens input.,” Bulama said.
In their separate contributions , The Network for Civil Society represented by the Deputy Chairman, Comrade Bulama Abiso and National Youth Council,, Comrade Babagana and People Living with Disability , Alhaji A Mohammed respectively called on the state government to replicate similar Town Hall meetings in the 3 senatorial districts, construct houses for the people Living with Disability (PWD) by establishing PWD villages and create jobs among others
