Zulum has proposed a budget of ₦890.33 billion for 2026, prioritising education recovering 

Zulum has proposed a budget of ₦890.33 billion for 2026, prioritising education recovering 

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, on Monday presented a proposed ₦890.33 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly, with education emerging as the biggest beneficiary.

The proposal, tagged “Budget of Sustained Recovery and Growth”, reflects the administration’s push to consolidate peace, rebuild critical infrastructure, and accelerate economic development after years of insurgency.

Speaking at the Assembly Complex in Maiduguri, Governor Zulum said the 2026 budget represents an increase of ₦275 billion, or 44.7 per cent, over the 2025 appropriation of ₦615 billion. He attributed the expansion to growing development needs and improved budget performance.

According to him, the outgoing 2025 budget recorded an impressive 97.1 per cent performance rate, despite the prolonged security challenges confronting the state.

A sectoral breakdown of the proposal shows that education received ₦135 billion, accounting for 15.2 per cent of the total budget. The allocation underscores the government’s belief that education remains the backbone of long-term recovery and human capital development.

Governor Zulum explained that the 2026 spending plan prioritises the completion of ongoing projects across key sectors, including agriculture, livestock, and fisheries, as well as reconstruction and resettlement programs.

Of the total budget size, ₦417 billion was earmarked for capital expenditure, while ₦483.6 billion, representing 54.3 per cent, was allocated to recurrent spending.

On funding sources, the governor disclosed that the state expects ₦427.69 billion from the Federation Account, ₦44.3 billion from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and ₦417.23 billion from capital receipts, including grants, aid, and the Capital Development Fund (CDEF).

Other priority sectors include health, which was allocated ₦66.48 billion, while Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement (RRR) alongside Works and Housing received a combined ₦94.27 billion. The Borno State Roads Maintenance Agency (BORMA) was also allocated ₦36 billion for both capital and recurrent expenditure in the 2026 fiscal year.

Reacting to the budget proposal, Hon. Midala Usman Balami, representing the Askira/Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), commended the Zulum administration for delivering projects across party lines.

He said the dividends of democracy under the current government were not distributed based on political affiliation, noting that communities in his constituency had benefited from new schools, hospitals, and improved healthcare facilities.

Balami added that the budget could equally be described as a “Budget of Unity and Holistic Development”, stressing that development under Zulum had cut across religion and party differences.

In his remarks, the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, assured the governor that lawmakers would give the proposal swift and diligent consideration in the interest of the people of the state.

The 2026 budget presentation marks another step in Borno’s ongoing journey from conflict to recovery, with the state government betting heavily on education, infrastructure, and social services to secure a more stable future.