UCLG World Congress applauds Kaduna’s open govt reforms

Kaduna State's commitment to transparency and citizen participation has earned commendation from the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) World Congress in Tangiers, Morocco. Governor Uba Sani's administration has been recognized for its open government reforms and dedication to democratic governance.

Represented by the Commissioner of Planning and Budget Commission, Mukhtar Ahmed Mohammed, Governor Sani presented Kaduna State's SUSTAIN Agenda. This initiative prioritizes security, infrastructure, agriculture, institutional strengthening, human capital development, and citizen engagement. The administration has reportedly invested heavily in these areas, constructing 736 classrooms, recruiting 10,000 teachers, revitalizing 255 Primary Healthcare Centres, and allocating over 11 percent of the 2026 budget to agriculture.

Commissioner Mohammed emphasized Kaduna's proactive approach to accountability, noting that all 23 Local Government Areas are now part of the Open Government Partnership initiative. The state has implemented participatory budgeting, citizens' audits, and open contracting. A Community Development Charter guarantees community involvement in budgeting, with five percent of capital expenditure reserved for citizen-nominated projects. Furthermore, ₦100 million has been allocated to each of the 255 political wards for community-centered development.

Kaduna's experience, highlighted by its perfect score in BudgIT's States Fiscal Transparency League, demonstrates that democratic transformation extends beyond elections. The state's institutionalization of citizen participation in governance, budgeting, procurement, and public accountability is presented as a model for building trust and achieving sustainable development. The commissioner also advocated for greater global support for subnational governments, recognizing their crucial role in implementing development policies.

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governments that invest in people while empowering citizens to shape public policy are better positioned to build trust, strengthen institutions and deliver sustainable development.