Taraba Assembly Approves N653.5Bn Budget For 2026
By Godwin Agia, Jalingo
The Taraba State House of Assembly has approved a budget estimate of N653.5 billion for the fiscal year 2026, making it the first state in the nation to finalize its budget for the forthcoming year.
The budget’s passage occurred a few weeks after Governor Agbu Kefas presented it to the legislature.
The Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon. John Bonzena, hailed the passage of the appropriation bill as a significant achievement, commending the members of the Appropriations Committee for their diligence and dedication, working tirelessly to finalize the budget figures.
The approved budget, titled “Development We Can See,” allocates N457 billion for capital expenditure, which constitutes 70.36% of the total budget, while N192 billion is designated for recurrent expenditure, accounting for 29.64%.
Governor Kefas had previously emphasized that the 2026 budget is focused on impactful and tangible transformation, with a strategic emphasis on infrastructure development, particularly in roads and transportation, as well as education and healthcare.
Bonzena urged the standing and ad hoc committees of the House to intensify their oversight functions to ensure the proper implementation of the budget.
He expressed concern over the recurring failure of some heads of ministries, departments, and agencies to appear before the Assembly to defend their budget proposals.
“With this passage, Taraba has become the first state in the country to pass its budget for the 2026 fiscal year.
“This clearly demonstrates the commitment and dedication of this House to the development of the state,” he stated.
He extended his gratitude to the people of Taraba State for their continued support of the legislature, encouraging lawmakers not to be discouraged by criticisms but to remain focused on delivering meaningful representation to their constituencies.
John Bonzena Kizito, while expressing gratitude to the members for their support and commitment to the Appropriation Committee, instructed the Clerk, Salmuna Amos Sani, to prepare a final copy of the bill for the Governor’s assent.
Earlier, Hon. Abdullaziz Sulaiman Titong, Chairman of the Committee on Finance and Appropriation, presented the committee’s report, noting that an additional N3 billion had been added to the initial budget size to accommodate further government projects.
