Stakeholders in Niger have identified the rehabilitation and construction of roads, schools, and healthcare facilities, among other needs, as priorities to be captured in the 2027 budget.

The concerned citizens made the demand at a citizens’ engagement on the preparation of the 2027 budget for the three local government areas, held in Gawu-Babangida, Gurara local government area of the state.

The stakeholders are from the Suleja, Gurara and Tafa local government areas of Niger.

Directors of planning, research and statistics from the three participating local government areas presented the priority needs and aspirations of their respective communities.

In separate presentations, stakeholders, including representatives of youth associations, civil society organisations, vigilante groups, and religious and traditional institutions, submitted the priority needs of their people.

They urged the government to ensure that the identified needs were not only captured in the 2027 budget but also effectively implemented to address the challenges confronting the people.

Mustapha Ndajowo, commissioner for planning, said the citizens’ engagement had continued to reposition the planning commission and strengthen its activities, particularly at the local government level.

Mr Ndajowo disclosed that the 2026 budgets of the local government councils could be accessed online through the state government’s official website.

He said the 2026 local government budgets had been streamlined in line with the traditional budget template and converted to the International Public Sector Accounting Standards, applying all segments and digits of the National Chart of Accounts.

The commissioner explained that adopting IPSAS would enhance transparency, accountability and effective financial management at the local government level.

He called on local government chairs to ensure continuous training and capacity building for directors of planning, research and statistics to improve budget preparation and consolidate the gains recorded by the councils.

Mr Ndajowo assured the stakeholders that the 2027 budget would reflect the needs and aspirations of the people, stressing the need for governments at both state and local levels to deploy technology to block leakages and improve budget implementation.

Jonah Ishaya, chairman of Gurara council area, commended the planning commission for sustaining the annual citizens’ engagement for budget preparation.

Mr Ishaya said the initiative had strengthened people’s confidence and trust in government programmes and projects by allowing them to directly articulate their needs and make meaningful contributions to the development process.

He assured that his administration would continue to intensify efforts to improve internally generated revenue and strengthen the council’s financial capacity.

Umar Isah, director of budget in the planning commission, reviewed the 2026 budget performance and presented the 2027 government priorities, targets and their implications, among other issues.

Mr Isah restated that effective budget preparation was a shared responsibility requiring commitment, coordination and synergy among all stakeholders to produce an inclusive and realistic budget capable of enhancing service delivery and promoting sustainable development.

Usman Jemaku, director of planning, Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, presented the half-year budget performance of the three participating local government areas.

Mr Jemaku stressed the need for the councils to intensify efforts to block revenue leakages and improve their financial management systems for better service delivery.

Before the engagement, the commissioner and his entourage paid a courtesy visit to Musa Sarki, the district head of Gawu, to brief him about the citizens’ engagement and seek a royal blessing for the exercise.

The district head appreciated the planning commission for organising the engagement and prayed for the success of the budget preparation process.

He urged all stakeholders to articulate their contributions toward ensuring that the 2027 budget addressed the genuine needs and aspirations of the people.

(NAN)