Abia Govt Seeks Citizens’ Input in Drafting 2026 Budget

The Abia State Government has called on stakeholders, including traditional rulers, civil society groups, and youths, to contribute ideas and suggestions that will shape the state’s 2026 budget.

The Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Kingsley Anosike, made the appeal during a citizens’ engagement forum themed “Build Up to 2026 Budget” held in Umuahia on Friday.

Declaring the forum open, Anosike explained that the state was committed to crafting a budget that reflects the true needs of the people. He recalled that inputs from last year’s forum accounted for about five percent of the state’s total budget allocation.

“We gather here to feel the pulse of the ordinary people of Abia State because the budget we craft is supposed to be a citizens’ budget,” Anosike said. “It should reflect what the citizens want, not just what the elite or government leadership wants. That’s why we build our budget from the ground up.”

He noted that interest groups were randomly selected from across the population, including traditional leaders, clergy, youths, persons with disabilities, and civil society organizations.

Open Government Partnership (OGP) co-chair for non-state actors, Priscilla Ogbonnaya, emphasized the need for simplicity and accessibility in the budget, stressing that transparency and accountability would strengthen public trust and civic participation.

Chairman of the Abia State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Eze Linus NtoMba (Linto), praised the initiative as a necessary step to ensure inclusiveness. He urged the government to prioritize community security and job creation, particularly through agriculture, in the 2026 budget.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget, Dr. Eric Egwuibe, said the engagement was designed to carry the people along, making the budget open for scrutiny and dialogue rather than being “strictly a government affair.”