From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
On behalf of the Executive Director, Exceptional Leadership and Integrity Promotion Initiative (ELIP-Initiative), Comr. Isah Mustapha (Sa’in Babura), we extend heartfelt New Year greetings to the resilient people of Jigawa State and all stakeholders as we welcome 2026. The year 2025 marked remarkable strides in our collective pursuit of transparent governance and inclusive development.
In particular, ELIP-Initiative commended the Jigawa State Government’s disbursement of over N1.856 billion in terminal and death benefits to retirees, advocating for systemic reforms to ensure timely payouts and pension sustainability. These efforts highlighted our commitment to robust public financial oversight at state and local levels, fostering accountability and welfare for public servants.
Furthermore, throughout 2025, the Initiative actively tracked projects and programs across government tiers, participating in workshops on local development plans, coalition building, and capacity enhancement for climate-resilient initiatives. This monitoring reinforced participatory governance, ensuring resources delivered tangible benefits to communities.
In addition, ELIP-Initiative played a pivotal role in collecting, collating, and analyzing over 1,142 citizens’ inputs into the 2025 budget via 287 Community-Based Organizations, town halls, and online platforms, involving more than 17,000 respondents including women, youth, and persons with disabilities. For the 2026 fiscal year, we intensify this process to guarantee the budget reflects the yearnings of Jigawa’s teeming populace, prioritizing social services, agriculture, and inclusive growth.
Finally, ELIP-Initiative pledges unwavering dedication to amplifying these efforts in 2026, deepening advocacy for citizen-driven budgets, rigorous monitoring, and transparent financial management . Together, we build a Jigawa where every naira serves the people.
Happy New Year!
