January 01, (THEWILL) — Benue State governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, on Wednesday assented to the 2026 Appropriation Bill of ₦695.01 billion passed by the Benue State House of Assembly.
Performing the ceremony at Government House, Makurdi, Governor Alia described the budget as a people-focused spending plan, aimed at rural development, livelihood support, and sustained economic growth.
The initial amount Governor Alia had presented to the State House of Assembly for scrutiny was ₦605.51 billion, but the House, after the appropriate budgetary processes, passed ₦695.01 billion, thereby increasing the budget by ₦89.5billion.
Presenting the bill to the Governor for assent, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alfred Aondoaver Emberga, stated that the House did due diligence by painstakingly scrutinising and analysing the budget vis-à-vis the current economic realities and in line with the vision of the administration.
Speaking shortly after signing the bill, christened the “Budget of Rural Development, Livelihood Support and Sustained Growth”, Governor Alia said, the budget is rooted in the realities of the present and is guided by the aspirations that bind us to a greater tomorrow.
”At the heart of Benue lies a strong rural foundation that feeds the nation, preserves our culture, and anchors our path to inclusive growth. For decades, these rural communities carried the weight of neglect, despite feeding the nation. We make a bold declaration: the era of rural neglect is over.”
According to the governor, the 2026 Budget deliberately prioritises rural transformation through feeder roads, bridges, water supply, rural electrification, and climate-smart infrastructure.
“When we connect farms to markets, we unlock wealth. When we connect communities to schools and hospitals, we secure dignity. When rural Benue thrives, the entire State prospers”, Governor Alia stated.
He emphasised that farmers remain the pride of this land, which he noted is why agriculture and agro-industrial development receive strong backing in the 2026 State budget.
”We are expanding access to subsidised inputs, mechanisation, extension services, aggregation centres, and cottage processing facilities. We are not just growing crops; we are growing value chains, jobs, and incomes”, he declared.
The governor commended the Benue State House of Assembly, led by Speaker, Rt Honourable Emberga, for what he described as a diligent, transparent, and patriotic budget process while calling for collective responsibility.
Governor Alia urged citizens, development partners, the private sector, traditional institutions, civil society groups, and the media to see the budget as an invitation to partnership, assuring Benue people that implementation would be carried out with discipline and accountability.
He stressed that the success of the budget would ultimately be measured by its impact on the lives of Benue residents and beyond.
