Kogi Assembly approves 2026 budget

The Kogi State House of Assembly has passed the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law after a detailed review process that included public participation, budget defence sessions and legislative scrutiny.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Budget Monitoring and Appropriation, Olawumi Jacob, disclosed this while speaking with journalists on Wednesday after the budget was passed on the floor of the Assembly.

Jacob said the process started with the formal presentation of the appropriation bill to the House by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.

He explained that this was followed by a public hearing, which gave civil society organisations, other stakeholders and residents of Kogi State the opportunity to study the budget proposals and make inputs into the framework before its final consideration and passage.

“After the budget was laid before the House, we proceeded to the public hearing stage where civil society organisations and stakeholders from across the state came to scrutinise the budget lines,” he said.

He noted that the House subsequently embarked on a detailed budget defence session, during which Ministries, Departments and Agencies, led by their commissioners, appeared before the committee to defend their proposed allocations.

According to Jacob, lawmakers carefully examined sectoral allocations and made necessary adjustments to ensure efficiency, accountability, and alignment with the state’s development priorities.

“We thoroughly scrutinised the budget, reviewed the sectoral distribution of funds, and made necessary adjustments. The recommendations of civil society organisations were also considered and factored in during the technical sessions,” Jacob stated.

The lawmaker noted that after deliberations, the House adopted the committee’s report, leading to the passage of the budget into law.

“Once a budget is passed into law, it becomes binding. Nothing can be added or removed from it,” he emphasised.

Describing the budget as people-oriented, Jacob said the 2026 appropriation is themed “Budget of Shared Prosperity for Sustainable Development,” stressing that it is designed to benefit all residents of Kogi State.

“It is a win-win for the entire state. The budget is geared towards shared prosperity and sustainable development for all,” he added.

The passage of the budget now paves the way for its implementation across key sectors of the state’s economy in the coming fiscal year.

Join Very Nigerian WhatsApp Channel
For Verified Breaking News, Exclusive Reports, Trending Stories, And Real-time Updates.
CLICk HERE TO JOIN!