January 30, (THEWILL) — Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has signed the ₦758.7 billion 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to accelerating development across all sectors of the state.
The budget, tagged “Budget of Socioeconomic Expansion”, is designed to stimulate economic growth and improve the living standards of residents.
Speaking shortly after assenting to the bill, Governor Aliyu commended members of the Sokoto State House of Assembly for their swift, patriotic, and thorough consideration of the budget proposal.
He assured residents that implementation would commence immediately to ensure timely delivery of government projects and programmes.
The governor explained that the budget prioritises key sectors with direct impact on citizens’ welfare.
A sectoral breakdown shows that 41 percent is allocated to the economic sector, 37 per mcent to the social sector, while 16 percent amounting to ₦122.73 billion is earmarked for the health sector.
Major health projects captured in the budget include the completion of the Sokoto State University Teaching Hospital, Kasarawa; Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital; and premier hospitals in Binji, Tambuwal, and Sabon Birni.
The budget also provides for the procurement of 21 ambulances to strengthen emergency response services across the state.
The education sector received ₦115.95 billion to improve the quality of teaching and learning, rehabilitate schools, and provide critical infrastructure for tertiary institutions.
Similarly, the agriculture sector was allocated ₦18.74 billion to boost food production and ensure food security through the provision of farm inputs, equipment, and support services to farmers.
Governor Aliyu further disclosed that the 2026 budget is development-oriented, with 72 percent allocated to capital expenditure and 28 percent to recurrent expenditure, in line with international best practices and recommendations of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
He revealed that all projects executed in the previous year were financed through the Federation Account and the state’s internally generated revenue without borrowing, stressing that Sokoto State remains debt-free.
While appreciating the leadership and members of the House of Assembly for their cooperation throughout the budget process, the governor urged lawmakers to sustain effective oversight during implementation.
He pledged continued collaboration with the legislature to translate the budget into tangible development outcomes.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Hon. Tukur Bala Bodinga, said the timely passage of the 2026 Appropriation Bill reflected the cordial relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government.
He noted that the House subjected the budget proposal to rigorous scrutiny to ensure alignment with the state’s development priorities.
The Speaker commended Governor Aliyu for his sound policy direction and focus on critical sectors such as security, healthcare, education, agriculture, and economic development, describing the budget as people-centred.
The Speaker used the occasion to present a letter of commendation to the governor on behalf of the House, assuring that the legislature would continue to provide effective oversight to ensure prudent and transparent implementation of the budget for the benefit of the people.
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
