Bauchi State Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has signed the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, authorising expenditure of ₦877 billion from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund for the 2026 fiscal year. The signing took place at the Executive Council Chamber, Government House, Bauchi, with the Speaker and members of the State House of Assembly present.
Bauchi 2026 Budget: law approved after legislative scrutiny
The budget proposal was initially estimated at ₦878.15 billion when presented to the House on 27 November 2025. Following a detailed review, the House approved a final figure modestly reduced by about ₦1.1 billion. Officials said the reduction was achieved through adjustments to recurrent expenditure and did not affect capital spending, a decision framed by both the executive and legislature as an exercise in fiscal prudence.
Speaking after assenting to the bill, Governor Mohammed described the occasion as a constitutional milestone that activates implementation of the 2026 Budget from 1 January 2026. He praised the Assembly’s robust, objective and non-partisan review process and highlighted the cooperation between the executive and legislative branches since 2019. The governor also commended opposition lawmakers for prioritising governance over partisan considerations.
Under the theme “Budget of Consolidation and Sustainability”, the 2026 fiscal plan is designed to build on the administration’s achievements over the past six years. The governor emphasised that the plan will sustain investments across infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, commerce, security and social services, while maintaining balanced sectoral development.
Officials noted that about 79 percent of the 2025 Budget was implemented, a performance the governor described as among the highest nationwide. He instructed members of the State Executive Council and ministries, departments and agencies to ensure full, faithful and timely implementation of the new budget, stressing transparency and accountability in public spending.
The Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y. Sulaiman, said the Appropriation Law resulted from an inclusive and transparent process that included budget defence sessions, stakeholder engagements and rigorous committee oversight. The House reviewed revenue projections as well as recurrent and capital expenditures, prioritising strategic sectors such as transportation, security, infrastructure and social welfare.
However, the legislature expressed reservations about the realism of the Internally Generated Revenue projections, particularly in light of anticipated federal tax reforms. Those concerns informed the decision to reduce the budget size slightly. To strengthen implementation, the House recommended strict compliance with fiscal responsibility laws, capacity building for MDAs, sanctions against extra-budgetary spending, timely release of funds, and enhanced audit and procurement frameworks.
As the final full-cycle budget of Governor Mohammed’s two-term administration, the 2026 plan represents a blueprint for sustaining service delivery and infrastructure works undertaken during his tenure. The administration has pledged to uphold transparency, strengthen oversight and pursue responsible governance as the new appropriation moves to execution.
Key Takeaways:
- Governor Bala Mohammed signs the Bauchi 2026 Budget authorising ₦877 billion for the 2026 fiscal year.
- The legislature trimmed the proposal by about ₦1.1 billion following robust review, reflecting fiscal discipline.
- Budget aims to sustain investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and security while maintaining balanced sectoral development.
- Lawmakers flagged Internally Generated Revenue projections amid federal tax reforms and recommended stronger fiscal controls and capacity building.
