From Maiharaji Altine Gusau
Zamfara state Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning has organised a town hall meeting in Kaura-Namoda town, the headquarters of the Zamfara North Senatorial zone.
Addressing the participants, the director budget of the ministry, Alhaji Hamza Badarawa said the purpose of the meeting was to let the people know the projects to be executed in their localities.
He said that, the meeting would also enable the participants to suggest if they have other projects of their choice so that the budget could be amended.
According to Badarawa, the opinion of the participants whould be forwarded to the state House of Assembly for amendment.
Alhaji Hamza said the town hall meeting was the first of its kind in the state adding that, the ministry would write a report to the state House of Assembly if there is any change.
Also speaking, member of the state House of Assembly, Hon Salisu Zurmi spoke extensively on federation account where money is shared between three tiers of the goverment.
He urged the participants to critically study the 2021 budget presented by the administration of Governor Bello Matawalle and see if there was anything they wanted which was not in the budget.
In his contribution, Honourable Zaharuddem Mohammed Sada who is the Chief whip to the state House of Assembly commended the state government for organizing the meeting which he said was the first of its kind.
According to him, the participants were given the opportunity to observe and make contribution on how the budget could make an impact on their lives.
He stressed that the house would do all it could to ensure the full implementation of the budget.
The chairman Zurmi emirate development Association, Alhaji Suleman Baba called on the state government to purchase 300 kva transformer for the electricity need of the people of the state.
He also called on the state government to establish Teacher Training Colleges in the three zones not only in the central zone as , proposed in next year’s budget.
Another Speaker, Alhaji Abba Isa, Secretary General, Kaura-Namoda Namoda development Association urged the state government to consider the construction of housing estate in Kaura-Namoda town which he said was not captured in 2021 budget.
Another Speaker, Alhaji Muhammad Madaro Kurya appealed to the goverment to include traditional rulers in the execution of projects in their respective communities.
In his contribution, the Sole Administrator, Shinkafi Local Government, Alhaji Sani Galadima Garkuwan Shinkafi said Jangero-Badarawa-Kware road is in serious state of dilapidation and needed urged attention to provide access road to the teeming populace of the area who were peasant farmers.
He also called on the goverment to include Shinkafi International market in the budget with a view to giving it a befitting outlook like its counterparts in other parts of the country.
The chairman of PDP Kaura-Namoda local government Alhaji Sule Gabake commended the state government for introducing the town hall meeting on the budget, advising that, the tempo should be maintained.
