Local government councils in Katsina State have proposed a combined budget of over N280 billion for the 2026 fiscal year.
Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government and Emirate Affairs in the Katsina State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Machika, disclosed this at the end of the budget defence sessions conducted by the state’s 34 local government councils.
The budget defence sessions were held at the Assembly Press Centre, where council representatives presented their financial plans for the coming year.
Machika explained that the committee would carefully deliberate on the proposed budgets before forwarding them to the House for final consideration and approval.
According to him, the proposed N280 billion allocation is expected to enable the councils to implement programmes and projects that will fulfil promises made to the people at the grassroots.
He also assured that the committee would strengthen its oversight functions to ensure transparency and effective utilization of public funds.
“The committee will closely monitor the spending of the councils to ensure proper implementation and quality execution of projects across the local government areas,” Machika said.
The lawmaker commended Dikko Umar Radda for promoting financial independence of local government councils in the state.
He also praised the Katsina State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for working closely with the Assembly to establish budget offices in all the 34 local government areas.
Machika noted that the establishment of the budget offices had improved the ability of councils to prepare realistic and acceptable budgets.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Tanimu Dutsima, described the budget defence exercise as successful.
He commended the local government councils for their cooperation and understanding during the process, which he said contributed to the smooth conduct of the exercise.
