Sokoto unveils inclusive 2026 budget plan

Sokoto State Governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu, on Sunday unveiled the framework for the state’s 2026 budget, promising a people-driven fiscal agenda that reflects the aspirations of communities across all 23 local government areas.

The governor made this known during the 2026 Citizen Town Hall Budget Discussion, organised by the State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and held at the Sultan Maccido Institute for Qur’anic and General Studies, on Sunday.

The engagement continues the administration’s push for open governance, following earlier commitments to improve transparency and rebuild public trust after years of complaints about opaque budget processes.

In his welcome remarks, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Abubakar Zayyana, described the event as “the grand finale of citizen engagement on the 2026 budget proposal.”

He explained that the consultations—introduced this year as part of broader public-sector reforms—were designed to deepen citizen participation and align Sokoto with national and global best practices, including the standards of the Open Government Partnership.

reports that Aliyu, who assumed office in 2023 with a campaign emphasising restoration, accountability and infrastructure renewal, hailed the town hall initiative as “a modern test of our democracy and our collective future.”

According to him, inputs gathered across the three senatorial districts have helped shape “the concrete aspirations of our priorities and the engine that will drive our development in 2026.”

Representing the Sultan of Sokoto, the District Head of Wurno, Alhaji Kabir Alhassan, commended the government for executing people-oriented projects such as road rehabilitation, school upgrades and improvements in primary healthcare.

He urged the state government to include traditional rulers in the proposed new minimum wage scheme, noting that many district heads and palace staff struggle with stagnant allowances.

Development partners also weighed in. Officials of UNICEF praised the administration for increasing allocations to critical sectors, including child health, nutrition, water, sanitation and education—areas where Sokoto historically ranks low in national indicators.

The agency stressed that sustained funding is crucial to reversing persistent challenges such as high child malnutrition rates and the large population of out-of-school children.

Civil society organisations represented by Dr Abdulrahman Umar, pledged to partner with the government to ensure accountability and equitable implementation of the 2026 budget, adding that citizens expect the dividends of democracy to reach “every nook and cranny of the state.”

From the women’s sector, Dr Nafisa Alhassan called for prioritisation of the State Water Board, citing perennial water shortages in urban and rural communities. She noted that inadequate water supply disproportionately affects women by increasing domestic burdens and limiting productivity.

Ethnic minority communities were also represented. Speaking for the Igbo community, Chief Augustine Onumba described the Aliyu administration as “the best in the country and a home for all, regardless of ethnicity or religion,” noting recent efforts to integrate non-indigenes into socioeconomic activities.

Youth representative Zayyana Adam appealed for urgent renovation of the State Sports Centre, which he said has suffered years of neglect despite its importance to youth engagement and crime reduction.

Responding to concerns from residents of Offa Road—an area largely populated by non-indigenes—the governor assured that repairs would be undertaken, adding that the project would receive priority “once the community supports the government and votes in the forthcoming general elections.”

The remark underscores the political undertones of town hall meetings, which have increasingly served as platforms for governance feedback and mobilisation ahead of the 2027 polls.

Aliyu concluded by reiterating the administration’s commitment to inclusiveness, transparency and data-driven governance.

“A responsible budget is what we owe our people. Together, we will make the development story of Sokoto come true,” he said.

Recall that in November 2024,  Aliyu promised to partner with the Nigerian Governors Forum, USAID State2State and other donor agencies for the development of the state.

The governor gave this assurance while making his remarks during the state 2025 Citizens Budget Discussion, held at the auditorium hall of Sultan Maccido Institute of Quranic and General Studies.