The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Kaduna, Shehu Bawa, has pledged to prioritise security, education, healthcare and job creation if elected.

Mr Bawa made the pledge on Wednesday in Kaduna during a One-on-One policy dialogue with civil society organisations under the Partnership for Issue Based Campaign in Nigeria (PICaN).

He said his proposed administration would strengthen community-based security through regular engagements among security agencies, traditional rulers, and residents.

According to him, security agencies alone cannot handle the security challenges. When communities report suspicious activities, we can achieve better security.

Mr Bawa also promised to improve human capital development through quality education, better healthcare services and expanded opportunities for young people. He said no child should be denied access to education, adding that his administration would equip healthcare centres with modern facilities and improve staff welfare.

On economic development, the candidate pledged to promote industrialisation, support small businesses and create jobs by leveraging his entrepreneurial experience.

Mr Bawa said the state would establish agricultural processing hubs based on communities’ economic strengths, while supporting farmers with modern equipment and improved farming techniques.

Mr Bawa said his administration would explore partnerships with countries with established agricultural expertise, including Brazil, China, India and Egypt, to train young people and improve productivity.

He also pledged to improve infrastructure through road maintenance, street lighting, reliable electricity and expanded digital connectivity to enhance security and attract investment.

On agriculture, Mr Bawa advocated stronger cooperatives, improved seedlings, well-equipped research centres, and government interventions to increase yields and reduce poverty.

The candidate promised transparent and accountable governance, saying development projects would be determined by communities’ needs rather than imposed through a top-down approach. He proposed consultations with stakeholders across the state’s three senatorial zones to identify priorities and ensure equitable distribution of public resources.

Mr Bawa said his proposed governance framework would include community-level project monitoring, followed by local government and state-level assessments to strengthen accountability. He also expressed concern over Kaduna State’s debt profile and poverty levels, citing figures from his analysis to support his call for greater fiscal accountability.

The PDP candidate said his administration would align spending with measurable development targets, while ensuring citizens could monitor projects and assess government performance.

(NAN)