Writing by Shamsuddeen Mannir Atiku; Editing by Basirat Memudu
The Kaduna State House of Assembly has rejected the 2026 budget proposal of Soba Local Government Area, citing multiple irregularities and inconsistencies in the document.
Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation and Implementation, Yunusa Shehu Pambegua, disclosed that the committee identified several discrepancies in the proposed estimates which must be addressed before further legislative consideration.
Earlier during the budget defence session, the Chairman of Soba Local Government Area, Mohammed Lawal Shehu, attributed the inconsistencies to salary increments recorded during the year under review, however, committee members did not accept the explanation.
He stated that while the approved budget for the outgoing fiscal year stood at over ₦4 billion, actual budget performance exceeded ₦7 billion.
He further noted that the proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year is over ₦6 billion, representing a significant reduction compared to the previous year’s performance.
Contributing to the deliberations, Deputy Chief Whip and member of the committee, Mahmood Lawal Sama’ila, observed that the reported budget performance was effectively zero in terms of compliance and required a comprehensive review to ensure alignment with established financial guidelines.
The committee unanimously resolved that the budget be returned for revision to address the identified anomalies before harmonization and eventual approval.
