Kogi State Deepens Citizen Engagement in 2026 Budget Formulation

Asiwaju Reaffirms Transparency and Inclusiveness in Governance_

The Kogi State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to participatory governance as citizens, community leaders, civil society groups, and development partners converged for the 2026 Citizens’ Engagement on Budget Formulation, organized by the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning.

Declaring the session open, the Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Asiwaju Idris, emphasized that citizen participation remains a cornerstone of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s administration.

He described the engagement as a vital platform that allows citizens to shape the priorities of government by sharing firsthand perspectives on service delivery, community needs, and development expectations.

Hon. Idris reiterated that under Governor Ododo’s leadership, transparency and inclusiveness are not just ideals but operational principles guiding budget design and implementation. He stressed the administration’s focus on ensuring that the 2026 Budget reflects realistic targets, data-driven priorities, and the aspirations of the people.

He further assured that the Ministry would continue to strengthen citizens’ participation across all Local Government Areas, working closely with relevant MDAs to align public inputs with the state’s fiscal and development frameworks.

During the engagement, participants drawn from across Kogi’s 21 Local Government Areas shared practical feedback on public services, resource allocation, and sectoral needs in education, health, agriculture, and infrastructure.

A key highlight of the event was a presentation by the Chairperson, Kogi NGO Network ( KONGONET) Mr. Hamza Aliyu, who delivered findings from the Kogi State Citizens’ Perception Survey on Public Services. The survey, which captured responses from over 2,200 citizens across the 21 LGAs, provided a rich insight into how residents perceive government performance and service delivery.

Mr. Aliyu’s presentation revealed that:

Education and Health Services remain citizens’ top priorities, with calls for improved teacher quality, better infrastructure, and wider access to qualified medical personnel.

In the Agriculture sector, citizens emphasized the need for mechanization, input support, access to credit, and greater inclusion of youth and women in empowerment programs.

On Budget and Economic Planning, the findings indicated that while citizens increasingly show interest in governance, awareness and participation in budget consultations should be improved, highlighting the need for sustained sensitization.

The Civil Service and Feedback Mechanisms also drew attention, with many respondents calling for more transparent recruitment processes and stronger communication channels between government offices and the public.

Mr. Aliyu commended the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning for institutionalizing citizen engagement and encouraged continuous improvement in feedback loops, transparency, and service delivery.

In his closing remarks, Hon. Idris thanked participants for their valuable contributions and assured that all feedback gathered during the engagementPlannin including the survey findings would be carefully considered in finalizing the 2026 Budget. He reaffirmed the Ododo administration’s resolve to build a government that listens, acts, and delivers measurable results for all Kogites.

Princess Funsho Sumanu
Public Relations Officer
Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning