Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue on Monday presented a ₦605.5 billion budget estimate for the 2026 fiscal year to the Benue State House of Assembly.
Tagged “Rural Development, Livelihood Support and Sustained Growth,” the proposed budget represents a 10 per cent increase over the 2025 appropriation and reflects the administration’s focus on transforming rural communities to drive inclusive growth.
Alia said the budget was designed to address years of underinvestment in rural areas, which remain central to food production and the state’s economic stability.
The proposal allocates ₦281.09 billion, or 46.4 per cent of the total, to recurrent expenditure, a 21.69 per cent increase over the revised 2025 figure, to cover salaries, the minimum wage, and other overhead costs.
Capital expenditure is put at ₦342.42 billion to fund infrastructure, livelihood support, and long-term development projects aimed at stimulating rural economic growth.
The Speaker of the House, Mr Alfred Emberga, thanked the governor for presenting the budget in line with constitutional provisions and assured that the assembly would give it prompt consideration.
He pledged the legislature’s commitment to speedy processing of the estimates and urged Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to cooperate during budget defence to ensure the passage of a people-oriented and transparent 2026 budget.
