By: Femi Mustapha
Kaduna State Commissioner of the Planning and Budget Commission, Hon. Mukhtar Ahmed, presented an overview of the proposed 2026 budget during a Town Hall Meeting held in Kaduna on November 14, 2025.
He highlighted the state government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and citizen participation.
Ahmed noted that the draft budget was developed with a clear vision to promote peace, accelerate development, enhance governance, stimulate economic growth, and empower the people of Kaduna State.
He explained that the budget was based on the state’s medium-term development plan and adhered to principles of prudent fiscal management, despite the challenges posed by national economic conditions.
The Commissioner outlined the state government’s achievements in various sectors, including education, health, infrastructure, and agriculture, stressing the importance of data-driven governance. He also announced an allocation of ₦100 million per political ward for community-prioritized projects across all 255 wards in Kaduna State.
According to Ahmed, the 2026-2028 draft budget assumes a crude oil price benchmark of $55 per barrel, a production target of 1.6 million barrels per day, and an exchange rate of ₦1,500 to $1. The total budget size is ₦985,915,136,574.60, with a capital-to-recurrent ratio of 71:29.
Priority sectors of the budget include education (25%), health (15%), agriculture (11%), infrastructure (25%), and social welfare (5%). Ahmed emphasized that the budget reflects the state government’s commitment to human capital development, infrastructure improvement, rural transformation, and social welfare.
In conclusion, Ahmed reaffirmed the state government’s dedication to openness, inclusivity, and accountability.
He invited citizens to contribute their input to refine the budget before it is submitted to the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
The meeting highlighted the importance of collaboration and partnership in building a secure, inclusive, innovative, climate-resilient, and economically vibrant Kaduna State under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Uba Sani.
