Kaduna State House of Assembly has passed the 2026 Local Government Appropriation Bill into law, approving over N152 billion for the 23 local government councils in the state.
The Speaker of the House, Yusuf Dahiru Liman, said the approved funds would significantly enhance socio-economic growth and infrastructural development across local communities.
He expressed optimism that effective implementation of the budget would improve the living standards of citizens at the grassroots.
Earlier, while presenting the report of the House Committee on Appropriation and Implementation, the Committee Chairman, Shehu Yunusa Pambegua, disclosed that all 23 local government chairmen appeared before the committee to defend their 2025 budget performance and present their 2026 estimates.
He explained that after harmonisation and internal adjustments, the committee retained the budget size as transmitted, amounting to over N152 billion.
According to him, recurrent expenditure stands at over N91.5 billion, while capital expenditure accounts for more than N61.4 billion.
Pambegua urged local government chairmen to ensure prudent and transparent implementation of the budget to meet the aspirations of the people, particularly as elections approach.
He noted that the Executive Governor had fulfilled his constitutional responsibility by transmitting the budget proposal and emphasised that it was now incumbent upon council chairmen to execute impactful capital projects that would uplift rural communities.
He further described the governor as a rural development advocate committed to prioritising policies and programmes that enhance socio-economic activities in rural areas.
The bill was unanimously adopted and passed into law following a motion moved by the member representing Ikara Constituency, Hassan Mohamed, and seconded by the member representing Birnin Gwari Constituency, Shehu Hassan.
COV/Shamsuddeen Mannir Atiku
