The Abia State Government has organised a Citizens’ Engagement Forum on the 2026 budget, aimed at ensuring that the voices of Abians are reflected in the state’s financial planning and resource allocation.
Speaking at the event held at the Aguiyi Ironsi Conference Centre, Umuahia, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Kingsley Anosike, said the forum was designed to give citizens an opportunity to influence government priorities for the 2026 fiscal year.
“The budget is meant to be a citizens’ budget, one that reflects the needs and aspirations of the people, not just the preferences of the elites or government leadership,” Anosike stated.
He explained that inputs from previous engagements already accounted for five percent of the state’s total budget allocation last year, noting that the inclusive process deliberately involves traditional rulers, clergy, civil society groups, youths, and persons with disabilities.
Highlighting Governor Alex Otti’s achievements, Anosike said the administration was committed to transparent governance and intentional about improving the lives of Abians.
Also speaking, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Budget and Planning, Dr. Eric Egwuibe, stressed that citizen participation enhances transparency, accountability, and collaboration, while providing a platform for citizens to share their views on state development plans.
The Co-Chair of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) for Non-State Actors, Mrs. Priscilla Ogbonna, applauded the government’s strides in infrastructure and governance, urging the adoption of citizen-driven approaches to budget planning along with effective feedback mechanisms.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Linus Nto Mbah, described the forum as unprecedented and called for budgetary provisions for job creation, particularly in agriculture, rural security, and improved healthcare staffing at primary health centres.
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