Governor Umar Namadi has unveiled five-year Local Government Development Plans for all 27 local government areas of Jigawa State, directing councils to adopt the documents as the primary guide for governance, budgeting, projects and service delivery.
The plans, covering the 2025–2030 period, were launched during a ceremony at the Council Chamber of the Government House in Dutse as part of efforts to institutionalise evidence-based, people-centred development planning at the grassroots.
Governor Namadi described the initiative as a major milestone in strengthening local governance, noting that it builds on previous planning frameworks such as the Local Government Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (LEEDS), which were not sustained due to weak implementation and limited integration with budgeting.
He said the new development plans provide each of the 27 local government areas with a comprehensive and participatory roadmap to guide priorities, investments and service delivery over the next five years.
According to a statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Hamisu Mohammed Gumel, the plans were developed through extensive consultations to ensure they align with the administration’s 12-Point Agenda, the Jigawa State Comprehensive Development Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals while reflecting the aspirations of citizens.
Governor Namadi said the success of the initiative would depend on faithful implementation, stressing that the plans should promote stronger coordination between the state and local governments and establish clear links between long-term development priorities and annual budgets.
He commended the Ministry for Local Government and Community Development, the 27 local government chairmen, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, women and youth groups, development partners and other stakeholders for their contributions to the exercise.
The governor emphasised that preparing the plans was only the beginning, adding that their impact would be measured by improved service delivery, responsive capital projects and visible improvements in critical sectors and the overall wellbeing of the people.
He directed all local government councils to integrate the development plans into their governance processes, making them the principal reference for strategies, annual budgets, work plans, projects, monitoring and accountability.
Governor Namadi also called on development partners, the private sector, traditional and religious leaders, community organisations and residents to support implementation, saying sustainable development requires collective ownership and shared responsibility.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Ibrahim Garba Hannun-Giwa, said the plans were produced through an inclusive consultative process involving government agencies, local councils, traditional and religious institutions, civil society organisations, women, youths, persons with disabilities, development partners and community representatives.
He noted that, for the first time in Jigawa State’s history, all 27 local government areas now have structured five-year development frameworks aligned with the state development plan, national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Speaking on behalf of the 27 council chairmen, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Jigawa State Chapter, and Chairman of Dutse Local Government Area, Dr. Sibu Abdullahi, pledged that the councils would fully implement the plans to strengthen planning, budgeting, project execution and performance across the state.
Usman Muhammed Zaria
