The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Shehu Usman Bawa, has pledged to prioritise security, education, healthcare, job creation and infrastructure if elected.
Bawa made the pledge on Wednesday in Kaduna during a policy dialogue with civil society organisations under the Partnership for Issue Based Campaign in Nigeria (PICaN).
He said his administration would strengthen community-based security through regular engagement among security agencies, traditional rulers and residents, noting that communities’ cooperation was essential to tackling insecurity.
On education and healthcare, Bawa promised to expand access to quality education, equip healthcare centres with modern facilities and improve health workers’ welfare. He also pledged to create more opportunities for young people.
For economic growth, he proposed promoting industrialisation, supporting small businesses and creating jobs. He said agricultural processing hubs would be established based on communities’ economic strengths, while farmers would receive modern equipment, improved seedlings and better farming techniques.
Bawa added that his administration would explore partnerships with Brazil, China, India and Egypt to train young people and improve agricultural productivity.
He also promised better roads, street lighting, reliable electricity and wider digital connectivity to improve security and attract investment.
On governance, the candidate pledged transparency, accountability and community participation in development planning. He proposed consultations across Kaduna’s three senatorial zones to identify local priorities and ensure equitable distribution of public resources.
He said projects would be monitored at community, local government and state levels. He also raised concerns about the state’s debt profile and poverty levels, calling for public spending to be tied to measurable development targets.
Earlier, PICaN co-convener Laurence Obeweh said the platform aimed to shift political campaigns from partisan rhetoric to practical development issues.
He said the initiative had engaged governorship candidates through policy dialogues, debates and a citizens’ charter during the 2023 election cycle. The latest engagement marked the beginning of a new campaign series, giving civil society groups an opportunity to question candidates about their policies and development priorities.
