₦758.7bn Budget Unveiled: Gov Aliyu Takes 2026 Spending Plan To Sokoto Assembly

Governor Ahmad Aliyu on Wednesday presented a ₦758.7 billion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year to the Sokoto State House of Assembly, outlining plans to strengthen security, expand social services, and drive economic growth across the state.

The proposal, tagged the “Budget of Socio-Economic Expansion,” is coming at a time of persistent security concerns, rising living costs, and growing demand for infrastructure and public services in Sokoto State and the wider North-West region.

Addressing lawmakers during the presentation, Governor Aliyu said the budget was formulated through what he described as an unprecedented, citizen-focused process.

He explained that the 2026 budget followed extensive town hall consultations held across the three senatorial districts—Tambuwal, Tangaza, and Gwadabawa—where residents from all 23 local government areas and 244 political wards actively participated in shaping the fiscal plan.

According to the governor, this consultative approach ensured that the budget reflects the genuine needs and priorities of the people.

Providing a breakdown of the estimates, Aliyu said the total budget stands at ₦758,700,526,537.89, with projected revenues comprising ₦389.3 billion from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), ₦74.5 billion in internally generated revenue, and ₦233.8 billion from grants, aid, and capital development funds.

On the expenditure side, the governor disclosed that ₦551.4 billion, representing 72 percent of the total budget, is allocated to capital projects, while ₦207.2 billion, or 28 percent, is earmarked for recurrent expenditure. He noted that the spending structure aligns with international fiscal standards and reflects the administration’s development-driven agenda.

Aliyu emphasised that security remains a top priority in the 2026 fiscal plan, with more than ₦45.2 billion allocated to support security agencies.

“Over ₦45.2 billion has been provided for the procurement of security equipment, patrol vehicles, motorcycles, and other logistics to strengthen the fight against banditry and violent crime in parts of the state,” he said.

In the health sector, the governor proposed ₦122.7 billion, representing about 16 percent of the total budget and surpassing the 2001 Abuja Declaration benchmark.

He said the funds would be deployed to complete major health facilities, including the Sokoto State University Teaching Hospital, Murtala Muhammad Hospital, and specialist hospitals in Binji, Tambuwal, and Sabon Birni, as well as to procure ambulances and modern medical equipment.

The education sector was allocated ₦115.9 billion, in line with UNESCO’s recommended funding threshold, while ₦109.1 billion was earmarked for works and transportation, covering road construction, rehabilitation, and improvements in public transport infrastructure.

Other notable allocations include ₦41.1 billion for water resources, ₦18.7 billion for agriculture, ₦17.4 billion for religious affairs, and ₦33.9 billion for humanitarian services, poverty alleviation, and youth empowerment programmes.

Aliyu further noted that the economic sector received the largest share of the budget at 41 percent, followed by the social sector with 37 percent, underscoring the administration’s emphasis on growth, welfare, and stability.

Offering additional context, the governor told lawmakers that the 2026 proposal builds on the state’s improved fiscal performance in 2025.

He revealed that the government achieved over 65 percent budget implementation in the outgoing fiscal year and executed projects without resorting to borrowing.

Aliyu also stressed that Sokoto State remains debt-free, with no outstanding obligations to contractors, and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining fiscal discipline in the year ahead.

The Sokoto State House of Assembly is expected to subject the budget proposal to detailed legislative scrutiny before passing it into law.