How Prudent Financial Management Is Funding Radda's War Against Insecurity and Driving Development in Katsina – Kagara

By Sulaiman Umar & Taibat Ummi Yakubu

The Katsina State Government has attributed the peace and infrastructural transformation being witnessed across the state to strategic, prudent and transparent management of public funds under the administration of Governor Malam Dikko Umar Radda, PhD, CON.

This was disclosed by the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Bello Hussaini Kagara, during a briefing session for supervisors and field officers ahead of the 1st and 2nd Quarter 2026 Financial Management Monitoring and Evaluation (FMM) Exercise.The briefing was held on Friday at the State Secretariat, Katsina.

Alh. Kagara told participants that since assuming office, Governor Radda has confronted the twin challenges of terrorism and insecurity head-on, a bold move that has restored relative peace and security in many parts of the state.

He noted that alongside security, the administration has embarked on aggressive construction of roads and other critical infrastructure, providing vital support services that are accelerating the socio-economic development of Katsina State.

"For all these achievements to be possible, it is because of the proper management and good use of public money. That is why this briefing and the exercise we are about to conduct is very important," the Commissioner stated.

He revealed that the Radda administration has instituted far-reaching, innovative and impactful fund management strategies, driven by the Ministry of Finance, to guarantee accountable, transparent and efficient dispensation of financial resources.

A major testament to this, according to him, is the over 350% growth in the State's Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) above the baseline the administration met in 2023.

Why Financial Management Monitoring?

According to the official Briefing Manual made available to newsmen, although the FMM is a seemingly new concept in the state's financial architecture, the remarkable achievements recorded vis-à-vis the quantum of expenditure injected necessitates a fact-finding monitoring exercise.

The exercise will assess successes and gaps in fund utilization and management strategies, with a view to strengthening the system for improved service delivery.

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Five-Point Objective of the Briefing

1.  Strengthening the overall fiscal policy of the State;

2.  Improving compliance with financial rules and regulations;

3.  Assessing the value financial services are adding to socio-economic development;

4.  Evaluating the performance of the state financial ecosystem, thereby enhancing expenditure control and prompt payment and remittance; and

5.  Determining staff capacity levels and ways to improve them.

Exercise Structure

The Commissioner explained that the exercise will be conducted in two phases.

The main fieldwork involving debriefing at the level of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and administration of questionnaires will hold for three days, from Monday 12th to Wednesday 14th October, 2026.

This will be followed by a three-day collection and retrieval of filled questionnaires from 15th to 17th October, 2026.

He said Friday's briefing was mandatory for all participants, aimed at acquainting them with their roles and responsibilities, guiding them through every item on the questionnaires, and ensuring a smooth and credible conduct of the exercise.

Participants were encouraged to ask questions and seek clarifications on any grey areas.