“No Ward Will Be Forgotten”: Sen Abbo Pledges ₦1 Billion Yearly for Each Adamawa Ward

By Emmanuel Kwada

Former Adamawa North Senator and 2027 governorship aspirant, Ishaku Abbo, has unveiled a sweeping fiscal reform proposal aimed at transforming grassroots development across Adamawa State, pledging that each of the state’s 226 wards would receive more than ₦1 billion annually under a new community-driven budgeting framework if elected governor.

The proposal, known as the Linear Budgeting System (LBS), is designed to decentralize development planning and place communities at the center of government budgeting and project implementation.

Abbo described the initiative as a landmark governance reform that seeks to address what he called the longstanding disconnect between government spending and the actual needs of local communities.

According to him, years of experience in the National Assembly exposed weaknesses in public finance administration, where projects were often conceived and executed without sufficient consultation with the people they were meant to serve.

“Too many projects have been implemented without adequately reflecting the priorities of local communities, resulting in misplaced investments and poor value for public funds,” he stated.

Development to Begin From the Ward Level

Under the proposed system, Ward Development Councils would be established in all 226 wards across Adamawa State. These councils would comprise traditional rulers, women, youths, farmers, artisans, religious leaders, persons with disabilities, professionals, and representatives of community organizations.

The councils would be responsible for identifying and prioritizing development needs within their communities, which would then form part of the annual state budget.

Abbo said the reform would mark a departure from the traditional top-down approach to governance, where development priorities are often determined from government offices without meaningful grassroots input.

“Government will no longer operate as a distant institution deciding what communities need. The people themselves will determine their priorities, and government will support their implementation,” he said.

₦1 Billion Allocation Per Ward

A major highlight of the proposal is the commitment to allocate over ₦1 billion annually to each ward, subject to the state’s fiscal capacity, budget performance, and project readiness.

The funds would be dedicated to infrastructure development, economic empowerment, and community-focused projects.

Projects eligible for funding under the scheme would include the construction of bridges, culverts, drainage systems, water supply projects, rural electrification, markets, motor parks, schools, healthcare facilities, irrigation infrastructure, and digital connectivity projects.

The initiative also aims to stimulate local economies through targeted empowerment programmes for women, youths, farmers, artisans, cooperatives, entrepreneurs, and small businesses.

According to the former senator, communities would also have the flexibility to propose additional projects tailored to their unique developmental challenges and opportunities.

Technology-Driven Transparency

To ensure accountability, Abbo proposed the creation of a publicly accessible Ward Development Scorecard, where details of allocations, procurement processes, contract awards, project milestones, and completion reports would be published for citizens to monitor.

He also pledged to establish a digital dashboard that would allow residents to track projects in real time across all wards, monitor government performance, and report abandoned or poorly executed projects.

The proposed system would be complemented by independent audits and periodic performance evaluations to ensure efficient use of public funds.

Vision for Inclusive Development

The governorship hopeful said the reform is rooted in the belief that democracy and development must begin at the grassroots level.

He argued that many communities across Adamawa have remained underserved despite years of public investment concentrated in a few urban centers.

“Development must not be determined by location, politics, or influence. It should be driven by fairness, need, accountability, and the aspirations of the people,” he said.

Abbo concluded his policy statement with a promise that no community would be left behind under his administration.

“No ward will be forgotten. Every community decides. Every citizen benefits,” he declared.

The proposal is expected to become one of the defining pillars of Abbo’s campaign as political activities ahead of the 2027 Adamawa governorship election continue to gather momentum.