Hon. Usman Shehu Bawa, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Kaduna state, has outlined a grassroots approach to governance, emphasizing community involvement in determining development priorities. He made this commitment during a one-on-one policy dialogue with governorship candidates in Kaduna state, organized by the Partnership for Issue-Based Campaign (PICaN). Bawa's approach aims to ensure that government projects reflect the priorities of residents.
Bawa's proposed administration would consult stakeholders across the state's 255 wards to identify local needs and allocate resources accordingly. This approach, described as "bottom-up," seeks to promote equitable distribution of public resources and reduce waste by locating projects where they are most needed. By doing so, Bawa aims to ensure that projects such as roads, bridges, boreholes, and classrooms are built in areas that require them.
Under Bawa's proposed model, communities would be consulted before decisions are made on resource allocation. This would enable residents to have a greater role in monitoring government projects and ensuring that contractors deliver according to specifications. Bawa proposed a multi-level monitoring and evaluation system involving community, ward, and local government committees, whose findings would be escalated to higher levels of government for assessment and action.
The PDP candidate identified security, education, healthcare, infrastructure, economic empowerment, and institutional accountability as priorities of his proposed administration. Improved security, he believes, would create an environment in which residents could live and conduct business with greater confidence. Better access to education and healthcare would strengthen human capital development, while promoting opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises would boost economic growth.
Bawa's development agenda covers human capital development, justice, peacebuilding, infrastructure, institutional reforms, innovation, technology, agriculture, and environmental sustainability. He pledged to promote opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises, strengthen social protection, and pursue policies aimed at improving the living conditions of residents. By involving residents in monitoring projects, Bawa aims to strengthen accountability and ensure that public funds are used for their intended purposes.
The PDP candidate's approach would give residents a greater sense of ownership and involvement in government projects. By consulting communities and involving them in decision-making processes, Bawa's administration would foster a more inclusive and participatory approach to governance. This, in turn, would help build trust and confidence in government institutions.
Bawa's ward-based development plan is set to revolutionize governance in Kaduna state if he is elected in 2027. His commitment to grassroots governance and community involvement has the potential to transform the state's development landscape. With a focus on equitable distribution of resources and community-led development, Bawa's approach could serve as a model for other states in Nigeria.
Key points
- The PDP candidate's ward-based development plan prioritizes community involvement and equitable distribution of resources.
- Bawa's approach aims to promote accountability and ensure that public funds are used for their intended purposes.
- The proposed administration's priorities include security, education, healthcare, infrastructure, economic empowerment, and institutional accountability.
