Governor Mohammed Assents To ₦877bn 2026 Appropriation Bill

By Usman Walin Gungura, Bauchi

The Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, has signed the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, approving a total expenditure of over ₦877 billion for the 2026 fiscal year.

The bill was assented to at the Executive Council Chamber of the Government House, Bauchi, in the presence of the leadership and members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y. Sulaiman.

Governor Bala Mohammed described the signing as a key constitutional milestone that activates the implementation of the 2026 Budget from January 1, 2026. He recalled that the proposal, initially ₦878.15 billion, was presented to the House on November 27, 2025, and later reduced by about ₦1.1 billion after legislative scrutiny, without affecting capital projects.

He commended the Assembly for its objective and non-partisan review, noting strong cooperation between the Executive and Legislature, including support from opposition lawmakers.

The Governor said the 2026 Budget, themed “Budget of Consolidation and Sustainability,” builds on six years of reforms and development, adding that Bauchi recorded about 79 per cent performance of the 2025 Budget.

According to him, priority areas include infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, security and social services. He also noted that the 2026 Budget is the final full-cycle budget of his administration and directed MDAs to ensure full and timely implementation.

Speaking earlier, the Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y. Sulaiman said the budget emerged from an inclusive and transparent process involving stakeholder engagements and budget defence sessions. He explained that revenue concerns, particularly around Internally Generated Revenue and federal tax reforms, informed the reduction in the budget size, assuring sustained legislative oversight throughout the 2026 budget cycle.

He commended Governor Bala Mohammed for turning around Bauchi State to the dreams of the founding fathers of the State.