In a bid to enhance transparency and ensure responsible use of public funds, members of the Jigawa State House of Assembly have commenced a statewide oversight tour across the 27 local government areas (LGAs). The initiative aims to monitor how funds allocated for development projects are being utilized at the grassroots level.
The legislative tour, which began earlier this week, is designed to assess the impact of state and federal allocations, as well as special intervention funds, on local infrastructure, healthcare, education, and other critical sectors. The lawmakers say the move is part of a broader commitment to strengthen accountability and foster trust between citizens and government.
Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Bala Usman, who is leading the delegation, said the exercise is a response to growing public demand for transparency in governance.
“We are not here to witch-hunt anyone. Our goal is to ensure that every naira allocated is accounted for and that the people of Jigawa State are receiving the dividends of democracy,” Usman said during a stop in Hadejia LGA.
Preliminary findings, according to the committee, suggest that while some local councils have made commendable progress, others are lagging in terms of project execution and financial documentation. The lawmakers have urged council chairpersons to prioritize openness and timely reporting to aid effective governance.
The oversight tour will include on-site inspections of capital projects such as road construction, health centres, water supply systems, and school rehabilitation projects. Legislators are also engaging with traditional rulers, community leaders, and civil society organizations to gather firsthand feedback from residents.
Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Haruna Aliyu, affirmed the legislature’s role in promoting good governance, noting that robust oversight is essential to fighting corruption and mismanagement at all levels.
“This is part of our constitutional responsibility. The Assembly will not relent in ensuring that public resources are used judiciously and for the benefit of the people,” Aliyu said.
The Assembly has pledged to compile a detailed report at the end of the tour, which will include recommendations for improved fiscal discipline and policy implementation across the state’s LGAs.
Observers and governance experts have welcomed the move, describing it as a step in the right direction toward institutional accountability and grassroots development.
