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An estimated budget of N653.5 billion for the 2026 fiscal year, has been approved by the Taraba State House of Assembly, barely three weeks after it was presented to the legislature by the state government.
John Bonzena, the Speaker of the House, described the passage of the appropriation bill as one of the Assembly’s core constitutional responsibilities, hailing the members of the Appropriations Committee for their diligence and thorough scrutiny that culminated in the final figures.
According to Bonzena, the timely approval of the budget would enable the governor effectively deliver good governance and the dividends of democracy to the people of the state, saying that with its passage, Taraba has become the first state in the country to pass its budget for the 2026 fiscal year.
The Speaker said, “This clearly demonstrates the commitment and love members of this House have for the development of the state.”
He enjoined standing and ad hoc committees of the House to intensify their oversight functions to ensure proper implementation of the budget and lamented the recurring failure of some heads of ministries, departments, and agencies to appear before the Assembly to defend their budget proposals.
The Speaker also thanked the people of the state for their continued support of the legislature, urging lawmakers not to be discouraged by criticisms but to remain focused on delivering meaningful representation to their constituencies.
The approved appropriation bill, tagged “Development We Can See,” stood at N650.63 billion when presented by the governor about three weeks ago and provides for a capital expenditure of over N457 billion, representing 70.36 per cent of the total budget, while recurrent expenditure is pegged at N192 billion, accounting for 29.64 per cent.
Governor Kefas had said that the budget was anchored on impact and tangible transformation, with strategic emphasis on infrastructure development, particularly roads and transportation, as well as education and healthcare during the presentation of the 2026 budget.
Taraba State House of Assembly approves N653.5 billion budget for 2026
