Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State on Friday presented a N1.31 trillion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year to the Niger State House of Assembly, outlining a spending plan focused on consolidation, economic growth and sustainability.
The budget, titled “Budget of Consolidation,” prioritises wealth and job creation, agricultural transformation, healthcare delivery, road infrastructure, and education.
According to the governor, N270.29 billion (26.19 per cent) is earmarked for recurrent expenditure, while N761.64 billion (73.81 per cent) is allocated for capital projects.
Projected revenue for 2026 includes N163.2 billion from statutory allocation, N154.7 billion from Value Added Tax, N100.2 billion in internally generated revenue, and N398.8 billion in capital receipts.
Key sectoral allocations include N59.2 billion for agriculture, N107.9 billion for education, and N72 billion for health, while infrastructure accounts for the entire capital expenditure of N761.6 billion.
Bago said agricultural spending would support fertiliser distribution, abattoir construction, and the establishment of an Agricultural Cooperative Agency to boost productivity and value-chain development.
The education allocation will be used to renovate 325 schools, train teachers, and expand vocational skills in agriculture and ICT, while health funding will focus on universal health coverage, completion of Primary Healthcare Centres and implementation of state health insurance schemes.
Infrastructure spending will target road construction, water supply expansion, and energy projects to stimulate economic activity across the state.
The governor disclosed that the economic sector will receive N510.3 billion, the social sector N194.1 billion, the law and justice sector N7.8 billion, and the general administration N50.3 billion.
He said the budget is based on an exchange rate of N1,447.21 per dollar, an inflation rate of 16.05 percent, and a GDP growth projection of 4.23 percent.
Bago added that the implementation would prioritise the completion of ongoing projects, food security, and improved internally generated revenue to reduce reliance on federal allocations.
Responding, Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, pledged the legislature’s support and called for sustained collaboration among government institutions to achieve a prosperous and secure “New Niger.”
