Buni Signs N515.5bn Budget, Warns Against Unnecessary Spending

Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State yesterday signed the 2026 appropriation and finance bill into law, totalling N515.5 billion.

Assenting to the 2026 budget, christened the Budget of Economic Growth and Infrastructural Transformation, is a continuity of the transformation in the education, health, agriculture, infrastructural development and employment sectors to improve the lives of the people.

He commended Members of the State House of Assembly for their commitment to the plight of the people, saying the law provides the government with a legal framework to execute policies and programmes that are beneficial to the people.

The Governor also noted that the assembly slightly adjusted the budget from N515,583,000,000 to N515,532,000,000.

Similarly, there is a slight decrease in allocation for capital expenditure, with a slight increase in the allocation for recurrent services.

According to him, the net allocation to finance the capital programmes is now N291,903,650:00 or 62%, while the sum of N223,628,350:00 or 38% is earmarked to cover recurrent services,” Gov. Buni said.
He assured that the 2026 budget would be guided by the principles of accountability, probity, and transparency, with strict observance of due process and budget discipline that have earned this administration recognition in the last six years.

He added that, “We shall strive to maintain our position as the leading state in Nigeria in Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability as attested by SIFTAS, the World Bank initiative, and the best state in budget implementation and fiscal transparency in 2023 and 2024 according to BudgIT report, an independent Budget tracking organisation.

“The Government would continue to institute more control measures to encourage financial prudence further, minimise unnecessary expenditure and ensure that the scarce resources in the coffers of the State Government are channelled to finance vital socio-economic services.

“Furthermore, as part of measures to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the budget, the office of the Secretary to the State Government, the State Ministry of Budget and Planning and the State Ministry of Finance will continue to give clear policy direction to the MDAs with a view to ensuring effective monitoring and assessment of the effects of our fiscal policy and optimum growth and development of the State economy in all ramifications” he said.

Additionally, the Speaker of the Yobe State House of Assembly, Hon. Ciroman Buba Mashio, expressed the assembly’s commitment to a harmonious working relationship with the executive arm, aimed at serving the people effectively.