The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has passed the 2026 Appropriation Bill of N545.2 billion into law, increasing the initial proposal by N27.6 billion.
The passage of the budget was announced by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, PhD, during plenary in Lafia on Tuesday.
The 2026 budget, which was earlier presented to the Assembly by Governor Abdullahi Sule on November 26, 2025, stood at N517.5 billion before its upward review by lawmakers.
According to the Speaker, the approved appropriation comprises N316.26 billion for capital expenditure and N228.71 billion for recurrent expenditure.
Dr. Jatau explained that the increase was necessitated by the prevailing inflationary trend and rising cost of governance.
He disclosed that, in the upward review, security votes and services under the Office of the Secretary to the State Government and the Ministry of Special Duties, Security and Sundry Matters received an additional N14 billion, while the Ministry of Local Government was allocated an extra N7 billion.
He added that the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism received an additional N3.7 billion, alongside increased funding for critical infrastructure projects, including the construction of the 55-kilometre Lafia–Kwandere–Garaku Road.
The Speaker urged the executive arm to ensure full implementation of the budget once assented to by the Governor, noting that the appropriation would enable the government to execute people-oriented projects across the state.
He directed the Clerk of the House to prepare a clean copy of the bill for the Governor’s assent.
Earlier, the Majority Leader, Hon. Suleiman Yakubu Azara, moved the motion for the bill to scale third reading, which was seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon. Luka Iliya Zhekaba. The bill was unanimously passed by the House.
Governor Sule had christened the 2026 budget “Budget of Strategic Consolidation,” and commended the legislature for its consistent support in ensuring timely passage of appropriation bills. The state’s 2025 budget stood at N476.5 billion.
Assembly Passes Revenue Harmonisation Bill
In a related development, the Assembly also passed into law a bill to repeal and re-enact the Nasarawa State Harmonisation and Administration of All Revenues Law, aimed at improving revenue collection and administration in the state.
The bill scaled third reading following a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Azara, and seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon. Zhekaba. It was unanimously adopted, while the Clerk was directed to transmit a clean copy to the Governor for assent.
College of Leadership Bill: House Receives Committee Report
Meanwhile, the House received the report of the Committee on Education, Science and Technology on a bill seeking to establish the Nasarawa State College of Leadership and Social Development, Toto.
The bill is sponsored by Hon. Mohammed Garba Isimbabi, representing Toto/Gadabuke Constituency.
Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Majority Leader, Rt. Hon. Abel Yakubu Bala, said the proposed institution would promote leadership development and social advancement in the state.
Receiving the report, Speaker Danladi Jatau announced that deliberation on the bill would be scheduled after the Assembly resumes from its recess in 2026.
