The Kaduna State Assembly has concluded the 2026 budget defence exercise for the 23 local government areas of the state, following a bill seeking approval of N150.12 billion for the LG councils.

The exercise, which commenced on February 24, was presided over by the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation and Implementation, Shehu Yunusa-Pambeguwa.

While speaking with journalists shortly after the session, Mr Yunusa-Pambeguwa explained that it was a tradition of the house to mandate the Committee on Appropriation and Implementation to conduct an in-depth analysis of local government budgets after their presentation before the House.

According to him, all 23 local government councils appeared before the committee to defend their budget proposals and present their performance for the previous fiscal year.

“When the budgets were presented before the House, the committee was mandated to study them in detail.

“We invited the 23 local governments to appear before the committee. They came and briefed us on their budget performance for last year and what they intend to do for their people this year.

“We raised observations and questions, and they responded accordingly and effected necessary amendments,” he said.

The lawmaker stated that the exercise went on smoothly, adding that the committee would now analyse its findings and present a report to the House for further legislative action.

Earlier, the chairmen of Kagarko, Kubau and Makarfi LGAs highlighted security, education, health, agriculture and capital development as the key priority areas in their budgets.

The chairman of Kagarko LGA, Muhiddeen Abdullahi, proposed N6.1 billion; Kubau’s Musa Sale presented a N5 billion budget; while Makarfi LG Chairman, Garba Muhammad, proposed a N5 billion budget.

Similarly, the budgets of Jaba, Lere, Kaduna North, and Sanga LGAs focused on health, education, and agriculture, in alignment with Governor Uba Sani’s SUSTAIN agenda.

The chairman of Jaba LGA, Larai-Silvia Ishaku, presented a N4.7 billion budget; Lere’s Jafar Ahmed proposed N7.3 billion; Kaduna North LGA presented a budget of over N7 billion; and Sanga LGA proposed a N5 billion budget.

The council heads assured residents of the transparent implementation of budgets once approved, expressing optimism that the proposals would positively impact their respective communities.

(NAN)