Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has officially presented a substantial budget proposal of N517,539,050,910.77 for the 2026 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly. The presentation, which took place in Lafia on Wednesday, signals the administration's plans for the state's economic and social development.
Dr. Danladi Jatau, the Speaker of the Assembly, received the budget and pledged effective collaboration and a swift legislative process to ensure its passage for the benefit of the state.
Key Focus Areas of the 2026 Budget
Dubbed the "Budget of Strategic Consolidation," the proposal is designed to build upon existing government initiatives. Governor Sule expressed gratitude to the assembly for its continued support and outlined the budget's core objectives.
He stated that the budget aims to complete ongoing infrastructure projects to improve connectivity and economic competitiveness. It also seeks to expand job creation through industrialization, support for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and boosting agricultural productivity.
Other critical areas of focus include enhancing the quality and accessibility of basic healthcare and education services, intensifying urban renewal programs, and strengthening environmental management.
A Breakdown of the N517.5 Billion Expenditure
Governor Sule provided a detailed financial breakdown, revealing that the total budget is structured with a recurrent expenditure of N212.79 billion, which accounts for 41.12% of the total.
The capital expenditure is significantly higher at N304.75 billion, representing 58.88% of the budget. This allocation underscores the administration's commitment to investing in long-term development projects over day-to-day governance costs.
The sectoral allocation is as follows:
- Administrative Sector: N108.70 billion
- Economic Sector: N221.84 billion
- Law and Justice Sector: N16.09 billion
- Social Sector: N170.92 billion
A more detailed sub-sector analysis highlights the priorities:
- Infrastructure: N157.80 billion (30.49%)
- Education: N92.91 billion (7.95%)
- Health: N37.19 billion (7.19%)
- Agriculture & Water Resources: N31.85 billion (6.15%)
- Governance, Security & General Administration: N142.96 billion (27.62%)
Commitment to Institutional Strengthening
The Governor emphasized his administration's dedication to sustainable progress. To drive modernization and institutional strengthening, the government has established six new strategic agencies.
These include the Nasarawa State Fire & Rescue Service Agency, the Nasarawa State Education Trust Fund (NASETFund), the Institute of Leather & Science Technology in Doma, and the Nasarawa State Multi-Door Court House (NSMDC).
Earlier, Speaker Dr. Danladi Jatau promised that the 7th Assembly would give the appropriation bill diligent and timely attention. He urged all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to commit to efficiency and strict compliance with the budgetary provisions, stating that this is non-negotiable.
Dr. Jatau also called on the citizens of Nasarawa to continue fostering peace, unity, and mutual respect, irrespective of political, ethnic, or religious differences, and to support Governor Sule in building the state of their dreams.
