The Kogi State Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Asiwaju Asiru Idris, has called for greater citizens’ participation in the preparation of the 2027 budget to ensure government spending reflects the needs and priorities of the people.
Idris made the call at a stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Lokoja, where civil society organisations, community leaders and other stakeholders discussed budget performance and development priorities.
He described the budget as a key instrument for delivering government policies and projects, stressing that citizens’ contributions were essential to achieving meaningful development.
Reviewing the state’s fiscal performance, the commissioner disclosed that total revenue, including opening balance, stood at approximately ₦308.22 billion in the first half of 2026, representing 37.6 per cent of the revised annual budget.
He added that expenditure reached ₦259.97 billion, while internally generated revenue stood at ₦26.22 billion, representing 59.6 per cent of the revised annual target.
Idris identified job creation, education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture and youth development as key priorities for the 2027 budget. He also called for improved revenue generation, effective project monitoring and efficient use of public funds.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Renaissance Care and Empowerment Foundation (RECEF), Amb. Idris Ozovehe Muraina, urged the government to adopt evidence-based budgeting aligned with the Kogi State Development Plan 2024–2056.
Muraina identified potable water and affordable transportation as critical areas requiring increased attention, calling for improved water infrastructure and a sustainable mass transit system across the state.
Also speaking, Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET) Chairman, Barr. Hamza Aliyu, presented findings from a citizens’ perception survey assessing service delivery across selected Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
Aliyu said the Ministries of Education, Health, and Finance, Budget and Economic Planning ranked among the leading MDAs, while water resources and sanitation-related services required greater attention.
He urged the government to address service delivery gaps through adequate funding, timely budget releases and effective implementation. He also advocated a legal framework to sustain citizens’ participation in budget preparation across successive administrations.
The meeting provided stakeholders with an opportunity to recommend measures for improving fiscal transparency, public accountability and service delivery ahead of the 2027 Kogi State Budget.
