By Muawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
The Katsina State Government has concluded its 2027 Pre-Budget Defence Exercise aimed at strengthening fiscal planning and ensuring that proposed public spending aligns with the state’s Building Your Future IV development agenda.
The exercise, coordinated by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, brought Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) before the State Pre-Budget Defence Committee to present, explain and justify their proposed expenditure estimates for the 2027 fiscal year.
The exercise formed part of the preparatory process for the 2027 budget and was designed to promote fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability while ensuring that limited public resources are channelled towards programmes and projects capable of delivering measurable development outcomes.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning and Chairman of the Pre-Budget Defence Committee, Malam Malik Anas, said the exercise was aimed at ensuring that proposals submitted by MDAs were realistic, performance-driven and aligned with the development priorities of the state.
He explained that the process would strengthen public financial management and encourage a results-oriented approach to budget preparation.
During the sessions, committee members reviewed the performance of previous budgets and scrutinised proposed personnel costs, salary commitments, overhead expenditure, ongoing programmes and new projects.
They also assessed the justification for proposed expenditures and their relevance to government policies and the development needs of the state.
Various sectors appeared before the committee to defend their proposed programmes and expenditure priorities, allowing the committee to examine revenue and spending plans, procurement requirements, public financial management strategies, economic planning and the statistical framework supporting the preparation of the 2027 budget.
Across the exercise, emphasis was placed on prudent resource allocation, fiscal responsibility, transparency, accountability and the expected impact of government programmes and projects.
The process also provided an opportunity to evaluate how proposed expenditures by each MDA would contribute to improved service delivery and socio-economic development in Katsina State.
The Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning commended members of the Pre-Budget Defence Committee and participating MDAs for their cooperation and active participation.
It described the exercise as a major milestone in the preparation of the 2027 budget, noting that the submissions would undergo further harmonisation and processing as the state moves to the next stage of the budget cycle.
The proposed 2027 Appropriation Bill will later be presented to the Katsina State House of Assembly in line with established procedures.
The conclusion of the pre-budget exercise marks another step in the state government’s efforts to connect fiscal planning with its development priorities under Governor Dikko Umar Radda’s Building Your Future IV agenda.
The government said its approach is to ensure that the budget serves not only as a financial document but also as a practical development tool for improving public services, strengthening agriculture and other productive sectors, expanding opportunities and enhancing the wellbeing of citizens.
The 2027 Pre-Budget Defence Exercise has provided a platform for Katsina State to review its spending priorities and strengthen the financial foundation needed to translate the Building Your Future IV agenda into tangible development outcomes for the people.
