Stakeholders of Nasarawa South Senatorial district have appealed for the establishment of more healthcare facilities in the 2026 appropriation bill to address the health needs of the people.
They stated this during the 2025 citizens’ budget town hall consultation for the Nasarawa South zone, held on Tuesday in Obi Local Government Area ( LGA) of the state.
Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Dauda Azige-Duglu from Obi LGA appealed to the state government to establish a General Hospital in Agyragu to cater to the health needs of the people.
According to him, the primary health centers in the area are overwhelmed as they continue to render inadequate services due to the growing population in the area.
Azige- Duglu also called for the construction of rural roads in Musha community to aid farmers in the transportation of farm produce.
“We also need the government to include the renovation of schools in Jenkwe Development Area in the next budget. This will help our children acquire quality education to secure their future,” he added.
Also speaking, Mrs. Safiya Mohammed from Awe LGA noted the lack of manpower at the General Hospital in the area and called for the deployment of more health workers to the facility.
Mohammed also called for the construction of more roads and a bridge that would link the LGA to the neighbouring state of Taraba to enable farmers to transport their farm produce to areas of need.
She further appealed to the government to establish a skills acquisition centre in Awe to enable women to receive training to become self-reliant.
Others who spoke, including Mr Yakubu Useni from Keana and Aishatu Musa from Lafia LGA, emphasised the need for government infrastructure, such as healthcare centres and road infrastructure, for the betterment of the citizens.
The Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Planning, Hajiya Munira Abdullahi, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Polinus Wahe, declared the event open, saying the engagement was a symbol of the government’s unwavering commitment to inclusive governance, transparency, and participatory budgeting process.
“The theme for this year’s budget engagement, ‘Fostering Collaboration on Resource Allocation – Key to Participation in Governance,’ speaks directly to the core of our vision of ensuring that every citizen, regardless of background or status, has a say in how government resources are allocated,” she said.
Abdullahi noted that since the inception of citizen budget engagement in Nasarawa, the state has made progress in ensuring that budgeting is people-centered. “Budgeting in Nasarawa State is now a people-centered process where your voices, your needs, and your aspirations inform and shape government planning and implementation.”
“As we gather for today’s consultation, I urge you to speak freely, share openly, and advocate strongly for your communities. This platform is useful for you to articulate the real needs of the people you represent,” she said.
The Commissioner assured that their submissions would be reviewed and considered in the 2026 budget.
On his part, the Director of Budget, Mr. Peter Akolo-Ataka, explained that participants were drawn from various sectors, including youth groups, women’s organisations, faith-based organisations, and civil society organisations (CSOs), from the Southern Senatorial zone.
He said one of the objectives of the engagement was to stimulate transparency and accessibility in governance and budgeting process, bringing together non-state actors under a platform to discuss and strategise for greater participation.
Representatives of various organisations, including the media, CSOs, and faith-based organisations, appreciated the State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, and the Ministry of Finance, Budget, and Planning for bringing the budget to the grassroots.
