Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Monday presented a proposed ₦899.33 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year to the Borno State House of Assembly, with the education sector emerging as the highest funded single sector, receiving ₦135.43 billion.
The budget, tagged “Budget of Sustained Recovery and Growth,” allocates over 61 per cent to capital expenditure, amounting to ₦536.56 billion, while recurrent expenditure stands at ₦353.77 billion, representing about 39 per cent of the total estimates.
Addressing lawmakers during the presentation, Governor Zulum explained that the structure of the budget reflects his administration’s focus on long term development, infrastructure renewal and the consolidation of post insurgency recovery efforts across the state.
According to the governor, the allocation to the education sector will be deployed for the construction of new schools, rehabilitation of facilities damaged by insurgency, recruitment of teachers and the implementation of scholarship programmes across Borno State.
The works and housing sector followed with an allocation of ₦94.27 billion, earmarked for the construction and rehabilitation of urban and rural roads, bridge projects and housing schemes for residents and civil servants.
The health sector received ₦66.41 billion to support the completion and equipping of ongoing hospital projects, as well as the procurement of essential drugs and medical supplies.
Other key allocations include ₦58.71 billion for the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, critical to the resettlement of internally displaced persons; ₦44.95 billion for agriculture to boost food security and farmer support; ₦21.35 billion for water resources; and funding for the Ministry of Information and Internal Security to consolidate security gains and expand operational capacity.
Governor Zulum projected total revenue of ₦317.69 billion from the Federation Account, ₦44.3 billion from Internally Generated Revenue and ₦417.23 billion from capital receipts, including grants, aid and the Capital Development Fund.
In his response, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, assured the governor of the legislature’s commitment to a thorough and timely review of the budget, pledging that it would be scrutinised to ensure alignment with the state’s development priorities before passage.