The Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Idris Zakari, has hailed the Katsina State Government for its groundbreaking approach to inclusive governance through grassroots budget consultations.
The initiative, championed by Governor Malam Dikko Umar Radda, PhD, involves holding townhall meetings in all 361 political wards across the state to conduct needs assessments and gather citizens’ demands ahead of the 2026 budget.
Rt. Hon. Zakari described the effort as “a commendable model of participatory democracy” that ensures government policies and resource allocation truly reflect the priorities of the people. He also praised the Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Malik Anas, FCNA, for effectively coordinating the citizen engagement process.
“This is a shining example of transparent and inclusive governance,” Zakari stated, urging other states to adopt similar models to build trust between government and citizens, particularly the youth.
The Speaker reaffirmed the Nigerian Youth Parliament’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote youth inclusion, participatory budgeting, and accountable governance nationwide.
