Governance, as it were, usually drives a top-down approach, where programmes and projects are designed from the top, with a holistic blueprint that provides a uniform approach to different solution requirements. Solutions to problems at the top or centre are driven down to the grassroots without taking into consideration, the different needs of the communities as they vary. Such blanket approaches do not take into cognisance the unique problem solving requirements of different communities at the grassroots level.
This leads to quite a huge degree of wastage, leaving the communities desiring solutions to long standing problems, while being flooded with resources in sectors they do not need. This redundancy is one of the problems that local government autonomy seeks to obscure. Warehousing governance programmes and initiatives in the local communities will bring more attention to the particular needs of the people in different places.
In an effort to address the developmental deficits at the subnational level, Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina state, on July 4, 2024, called for a meeting of all the 34 local government chairmen of the state, along with their directors of finance and administration, to present the Community Development Programme (CDP) model.
The CDP was designed to empower local governments from the ward level by going directly to communities to get information on their priorities and core areas of need. This is to be done by establishing a community centre in every ward which shall host a community development office for socio-economic development, a community support office for lives and livelihoods support to the vulnerable, and a community learning centre to advance academic and moral knowledge in our communities.
This is to be run by a joint planning committee between the state and local government and a programme chairing committee to be chaired by the governor, which would comprise key implementing ministries. Dr. Dikko Radda says that he “aims to establish a more inclusive approach to policy implementation and budgeting process. If we allow communities to tell us what they need and when, it will make governance more efficient and effective”.
In the continued pursuit of the implementation of the CDP, on September 1, 2024, the governor embarked on a statewide townhall campaign, to sensitise the populace on the community development programme model, and the citizens’ budget participation process. This is part of a series of public consultations, aimed at fostering grassroots involvement in the state’s budgetary process and ensuring equitable distribution of developmental projects across the state.
This will continue in all the conference halls of all the local government service commission offices in Katsina state. While addressing all the relevant stakeholders and citizens, the governor emphasised the need to have these community development committees in all the local government areas of the state. He informed them that a bill to provide the legal framework for these committees would be presented to the Katsina State House of Assembly.
The committees would play a pivotal role in identifying and prioritising development projects, ensuring that resources are allocated fairly and projects are executed effectively. The community development committees would serve as a bridge between the government and the grassroots, enabling for a better understanding of how to meet the needs of the people. They would also be responsible for monitoring and reporting malpractices by contractors or individuals in their localities thereby enhancing the quality and integrity of government’s projects.
During the townhall engagement, Governor Radda revealed that the Federal University of Health Sciences in Funtua would be commencing with their admissions in 2024. He also stated that plans were underway to convert the faculty of agriculture in Malumfashi into a dedicated college of agriculture. This would reduce the risks associated with the current security situation faced by lecturers and students.
“I have intimated the Tertiary Education Trust Fund on the need to develop more structures at Umaru Yaradua University Katsina to continue as the faculty”, the governor said at the townhall. In furtherance to improving healthcare delivery, the governor also disclosed that the government will establish new general hospitals in Bakori and Danja local government areas. This is expected to alleviate the burden on residents who travel long distances to access proper healthcare.
One of the highlights of the townhall engagement was the briefing by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs. He gave insights into the state’s ongoing security efforts. Approximately, 1,500 personnel have been engaged in the Community Watch Corps to support local governments in their security operations. Armoured Personnel Carriers, communication gadgets, vans and motorcycles have been provided for them also, to facilitate their operations, he disclosed.
This underlined the successes of the community-driven development model, which seeks the activate participation of citizens of the community in governance activities – both in formulation and implementation. The Community Watch Corps stands out as a sterling example of how this approach can effectively provide timely and needed solutions across the different communities in the subnational level.
Tahir is Talban Bauchi