17th March 2023 | Community Town Hall Meeting
Special Guests:
- Hon. Aminu ladan, Birnin Magaji Councilor.
- Mukhtar Ahmad, Social Director, Birnin Magaji/Kiyawa LGA
- Aliyu DIkko, Uban Kasa.
- Sa’adu Galadima, Uban Kasab II.
- Sani Shuaibu, Chief of Staff.
- Sheikh Iliya Liman.
Citizens’ participation in the governance of a nation begins with their engagement of duty bearers at the local level. If the voice of the masses isn’t heard at local governments, it stands little chance of being carried to the federal government.
The 1st Birnin Magaji town hall meeting themed “The Role of Citizens in Reviving Local Government Functions and Governance” was graced by dignified members of the locale. The meeting urged citizens to shift their mindset from focusing only on what the government can do for them to thinking in terms of collaborative efforts from both the government and the people.
Discussions centered around topics like decentralization of power, provision of better governance and inclusiveness, government accountability, provision of job opportunities within Birnin Magaji LG, and active citizen participation in government decisions.
Through these discussions, resolutions were reached to make governance within Birnin Magaji more democratic. Duty bearers were tasked with leading the people with honesty and trust. Citizens were further encouraged to show their participation in government by writing letters to those in offices, running for offices, donating money to community projects, participating in elections and committee meetings.
A keynote from this meeting was the Director of Agriculture’s response to a question about the lack of agricultural development in the community. According to the director, insecurity in the land prevents the government from investing in agricultural growth in the community.