In a landmark move for local governance, the Kaduna State Government has officially confirmed the allocation of N100 million to each of the state's 255 electoral wards in its newly signed 2026 budget. Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Mukhtar Ahmed Morovia, described the decision as historic and central to Governor Uba Sani's agenda for inclusive, grassroots-driven development.
A Budget for Grassroots Empowerment
The clarification came during a post-budget press briefing held after Governor Uba Sani signed the N985.9 billion 2026 Appropriation Bill into law on Monday, December 22, 2025. Commissioner Morovia emphasized that the ward-based fund, totaling N25.5 billion, underscores the governor's commitment to ensuring no community is left behind.
He explained that the funds are dedicated to projects in Health, Education, Agriculture, and Social Sectors, to be executed by relevant government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Crucially, the commissioner assured that disbursement would be transparent, with communities themselves determining their priorities through their respective Ward Development Committees.
Education Takes the Lion's Share of State Budget
Beyond the ward allocations, the 2026 budget reveals a significant focus on human capital development. The education sector received 25 per cent of the total budget, the largest single share. Justifying this allocation, the Commissioner for Education, Professor Abubakar Sani Sambo, stated it aligns with UNESCO's directive for developing nations.
"This priority is in line with UNESCO’s declaration to developing nations to devote about one-quarter of their budgets to education," Professor Sambo said. He added that the United Nations estimates this level of funding is sufficient to uplift education to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Capital Projects and Skills Development in Focus
The budget's broader structure shows a strong tilt towards infrastructure and future-proofing the state's economy. Commissioner Morovia disclosed that N698.9 billion, representing 70.9 per cent, is devoted to capital expenditure. This spending will target infrastructure development, economic expansion, and improved public service delivery.
Recurrent expenditure, necessary for the day-to-day functioning of government, is set at N287 billion, or 29.1 per cent of the total budget.
In a related development, the Commissioner for Business Innovation and Technology, Mrs. Patience Fakai, announced that the state's Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development is now fully operational. The institute has the capacity to train up to 32,000 students annually across 14 trade areas, supporting Governor Sani's drive to scale up human capital and workforce readiness in Kaduna.
"Training under both Kaduna State–supported programmes and the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) framework has begun," Mrs. Fakai added.
The budget briefing was attended by several members of the State Executive Council, including the Commissioners for Information and Culture, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Humanitarian Affairs, and Human Services and Social Development.
