Governor Uba Sani on Monday, December 1, presented a ₦985.9bn 2026 Appropriation Bill to the Kaduna State House of Assembly, describing the proposal as a people-centred financial plan designed to deepen reforms in security, infrastructure, education and rural development.
Addressing lawmakers during the presentation, the governor said the budget was not just a constitutional requirement but “a solemn civic engagement anchored on transparency, equity and the welfare of citizens.”
Sani explained that the 2026 budget was shaped through what he termed the widest consultative process ever undertaken in the state.
He disclosed that traditional rulers, civil society groups, women and youth associations, academia, business leaders and vulnerable groups from all local government areas actively contributed to the framework.
According to him, inputs from farmers, traders, artisans, teachers, persons with disabilities and widows formed the backbone of the document, reflecting the administration’s commitment to participatory governance and accountability.
Reviewing the performance of the 2025 budget, the governor said the year would be remembered for “remarkable achievements and resilient advancement,” despite economic pressures, fluctuating federal allocations and persistent security challenges.
He noted that the administration stayed focused on delivering key reforms and sustaining development programmes across the state.
Presenting the financial framework for 2026, Sani stated that the proposed ₦985.9bn budget consists of ₦734.2bn in recurrent revenue and ₦251.6bn in capital receipts.
He stressed that the decision to allocate 71 per cent of the budget to capital expenditure demonstrates the government’s commitment to accelerating development.
He explained that the distribution of resources mirrors Kaduna’s long-term transformation strategy.
Naijaonpoint reports that Education and infrastructure each received 25 per cent of the total allocation, reflecting the administration’s priority of building human capital while expanding physical development. Health was allocated 15 per cent, agriculture 11 per cent, security six per cent, social development five per cent, governance five per cent, and environment and climate initiatives four per cent.
The governor reaffirmed that the administration would sustain its grassroots funding model, under which each of the state’s 255 wards will receive ₦100 million for projects selected by local communities.
He described the initiative as one of the largest and most transparent community-driven budgeting systems in Nigeria.
Speaking on the state’s security situation, Sani said Kaduna continued to face evolving threats, including banditry, kidnappings and communal conflicts.
He, however, noted that strengthened collaboration with federal security agencies had significantly improved operations and restored confidence in previously troubled areas.
Through the Kaduna Peace Model, the governor said many communities formerly fractured by conflict had begun reconciling.
He added that farmlands abandoned due to insecurity were reopening and schools earlier shut in high-risk areas had returned to full activity following improved security conditions.
Sani announced that his administration was currently executing 140 road projects covering 1,335 kilometres, out of which 64 roads had already been completed.
He stressed that the new and rehabilitated roads had opened fresh economic corridors and connected previously neglected settlements to larger markets.
He also highlighted the progress of the Kaduna Bus Rapid Transit (KBRT) system, described as the first of its kind in Northern Nigeria, powered by CNG buses and supported by digital ticketing and a 24-kilometre dedicated transit corridor.
The governor noted that the Interstate Bus Terminal in Kakuri was 75 per cent completed and would help sanitise intercity transport when operational.
According to him, the state’s subsidised transport scheme has saved residents over ₦500m through free and discounted transportation services.
He further revealed that work on the Kaduna Light Rail Project was ongoing, with Phase I targeting the Rigachikun-Sabon Tasha corridor, while Phase II would connect Millennium City with Rigasa. Additional bus parks, he said, were also under construction across the state.
Turning to rural revitalisation, Sani disclosed that the state had recovered more than 500,000 hectares of abandoned farmland, which have now been reopened for agricultural use.
He added that feeder roads, rural markets and agricultural extension services were being restored to stimulate food production and ensure improved access to markets.
Sani identified education as the “cornerstone” of the state’s development strategy. According to him, the government reopened 535 schools in 2025 and returned more than 300,000 out-of-school children to the classroom.
He added that the administration also reduced tertiary institution school fees by 40 per cent to ease the burden on parents.
The governor listed other achievements in the education sector, including the construction of 736 new classrooms, renovation of 1,220 existing ones, provision of boreholes and toilets, furniture supply, and training for more than 33,000 teachers.
He further disclosed that the government had established bilingual schools and vocational hubs to strengthen technical education.
Providing updates on the health sector, Sani said all 255 Primary Healthcare Centres in the state had been upgraded to Level 2 status. He noted that 15 General Hospitals were undergoing renovation, five had been completed, and the 300-bed Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital had been fully commissioned.
The governor stated that his administration had implemented the CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures for health workers, improved emergency response services, built an oxygen plant, enhanced the state’s medical warehouse and allocated ₦1bn to ensure vulnerable families.
Skills Development, Technology and Artisan Support
Governor Sani also highlighted achievements in vocational training, including the establishment of the Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development in Rigachikun and two satellite campuses.
He said the government had partnered with technology giants such as Microsoft and Google to expand digital learning opportunities. Additionally, the remodelling of Panteka Market was underway to provide improved facilities for over 38,000 artisans.
Reviewing progress in agriculture, the governor said the sector had seen massive growth in investment, rising from ₦1.4bn in 2023 to ₦74.2bn in 2025.
This expansion, he said, enabled the distribution of over 900 trucks of free fertiliser, as well as support for irrigation schemes, mechanisation, livestock vaccination and seed improvement.
Sani further highlighted the ongoing establishment of the $510m Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone supported by the African Development Bank, describing it as a game-changer that would transform Kaduna into a major agro-industrial hub.
He added that the African Quality Assurance Centre would ensure that the state’s farmers have access to export markets.
The governor urged lawmakers to give the proposal rapid consideration, saying the 2026 budget represents “renewal, resilience and a far-reaching vision” intended to guarantee progress in every home, ward and local government area of Kaduna State.
Assembly Applauds Budget Priorities
Responding after the presentation, the Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Yusuf Liman, described the budget as “ambitious, comprehensive and aligned with the state’s development priorities.”
He commended the governor for giving legislators direct involvement in constituency projects, an approach he said was unprecedented in the state’s history.
Liman noted that the cordial relationship between the Executive and Legislature had enabled the Assembly to deliver democracy dividends across communities.
He assured that the House would conduct a thorough and transparent review of the appropriation bill and work with the Executive to ensure its speedy passage for implementation.
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