Kaduna deputy governor highlights importance of local governments in democracy

The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, has emphasized that the foundation of genuine democracy lies in the competence, legitimacy, and integrity of local governance.

She stressed that sustainable development is unattainable without strong, capable, and trusted local government institutions.

Dr. Balarabe made the remarks in a keynote address at the 1st International Conference of the Department of Public Administration at Kaduna State University on Thursday.

The conference, themed “Rethinking Local Government Administration: Policy Reforms, Institutional Capacity and Public Financial Management for Sustainable Development,” aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda.

Highlighting Kaduna State’s governance reforms under Governor Uba Sani, Dr. Balarabe said, “Our commitment has always been to build a public service that is responsive, service-oriented, people-centered, and future-ready.

“Such a vision cannot be realized unless our local governments are empowered, well-structured, well-resourced, transparent, and effective.”

She added that reforms in areas such as public financial management, digital governance, fiscal transparency, and human capital investment are critical to strengthening local governance systems and fostering accountability.

According to her, the conference serves not only as an academic forum but also as a strategic platform for dialogue and action on the future of governance.

Tracing the evolution of public administration in Nigeria, Dr. Balarabe noted that departments of public administration, which began as clerical training centers during the colonial era, have transformed into tools for nation-building, public sector expansion, and the development of indigenous administrative capacity.

She emphasized that modern policy reforms must clarify roles, eliminate duplication, and strengthen autonomy and accountability mechanisms to enhance service delivery at the grassroots.

In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of Kaduna State University, Professor Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa, highlighted the institution’s achievements, noting that KASU recently secured a competitive N1 billion grant from TETFUND for commercial agriculture.

He attributed the success to the university’s robust infrastructure, functional social enterprise culture, and capacity-driven, business-like approach.