By Isma’il Adamu
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has presented a proposed budget of N828.6 billion for the 2027 fiscal year before the State House of Assembly, with N638 billion earmarked for capital expenditure and N190.73 billion for recurrent expenditure.
Presenting the Appropriation Bill tagged “Building Your Future IV”, the governor said it prioritizes growth and grassroots development, with education, infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare and rural development taking the largest budgetary provision.
Meanwhile, priority was given to the social sector with a provision of 317 billion representing 38.3 per cent while the economic sector got an allocation of N303 billion which represents 36.6 per cent as the N198 billion was allocated to the administrative sector.
Governor Radda explained that of the capital provision N637 billion, five priority areas will gulp N325 billion where N83.8 billion was allocated to Basic and Secondary Education, N71 billion to Works and Housing, N65 billion to Agriculture and Livestock, N53 billion to Health and N50 billion to rural development.
Similarly, a provision of N312 billion was made for security and “e-governance” representing 49 per cent* of the total capital spending in the proposed budget.
He noted that the 2027 budget proposal was lower than the 2026 budget by 7.7 per cent representing a decrease of N69.23 billion, a cut which the governor attributed to the government’s resolve to institute fiscal discipline and adopt a realistic projection for both revenue and expenditure.
“We reviewed every available funding source to ensure fiscal balance, strengthen implementation and reduce the risk of shortfalls,”.
Radda told the lawmakers that the budget reflects the needs of the people sampled during town hall meetings in the 361 wards in the state.
“Our people named their needs, weighed them and ranked them. The first priority project chosen by citizens in each ward now forms a clear grassroots framework for the 2027 Fiscal Year,” he said.
He noted that each ward will receive a special project of its choice, while community-generated data will guide interventions in agriculture, MSMEs, WASH, women empowerment, environment, climate change and security.
While presenting a review of the state’s 2026 budget, the governor said as at August, the budget reached an implementation level of 44 percent which was achieved with capital receipts of N116.41 billion and recurrent revenue of 267.5.
“Total expenditure stood at N295.19 billion which represents 32.88 percent of the approved budget with a recurrent expenditure of N102 billion representing 59.6 percent and a capital expenditure of N193 billion which represents 26.5 percent.
Editing By Godwin Duru
