Taraba Council Chair Presents N9.8bn Budget For 2026 Fiscal year

The chairman of Ardo Kola Local Government Area of Taraba State, Hon. Bello Umar Badawaire, has presented a proposed budget of N9.88 billion for the 2026 fiscal year for consideration to the councils’ legislative council.

Presenting the appropriation bill at the Legislative Council Chambers in Sunkani, Hon. Badawaire christened the proposal as a “Budget of Sustainable Development and Inclusive Growth.”

The chairman said the 2026 budget estimate stands at N9,880,885,123 and is aimed at consolidating achievements recorded in 2025 while addressing critical developmental needs across the local government area.

He stated that the budget reflects the council’s commitment to building a prosperous, secure and self-reliant local government, and assured residents that the dividends of democracy would continue to reach all communities.

Comrade Badawaire mentioned some of the achievements recorded during the 2025 fiscal year, despite prevailing economic challenges, including improvement in primary healthcare services, rehabilitation of boreholes across the 10 wards, support for agricultural programmes, improvement of educational facilities, prompt payment of salaries and pensions, as well as strengthening of internally generated revenue.

He disclosed that recurrent expenditure in the proposed budget is N5.8 billion, representing 59 per cent of the total estimate, while capital expenditure stands at N4.07 billion, representing 41 per cent.

According to him, the budget will fund projects in key sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, infrastructure, water supply, and youth and women empowerment.

The chairman said the council plans to construct and upgrade primary healthcare centres across the 10 wards, remodel schools and provide learning materials, support farmers with agricultural inputs and extension services, and undertake rural road construction and maintenance.

He added that the council also intends to renovate the local government secretariat, drill and rehabilitate boreholes across the wards, and implement skills acquisition and empowerment programmes for youths and women.

Comrade Badawaire called on the Legislative Council to expedite action on the budget for the benefit of the people.

He explained that the budget would be funded through statutory allocations from the Federation Account, internally generated revenue, loans, aids and grants.

“The 2026 budget is a practical roadmap for sustainable development and inclusive governance in Ardo Kola Local Government Area,” he said.