Isiyaku Ahmed
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has presented a proposed N828.64 billion 2027 budget to the State House of Assembly, with each of the state’s 361 wards to receive a special project chosen by residents.
Tagged “Building Your Future IV,” the budget allocates N637.91 billion (76.98%) to capital expenditure and N190.73 billion (23.02%) to recurrent spending.
Presenting the proposal on Tuesday, Radda said the budget was 7.71 per cent lower than the approved 2026 budget due to a realistic assessment of expected revenue and expenditure.
He described it as the most participatory budget in the state’s history, saying its priorities were informed by a Citizens’ Budget Exercise conducted across all 361 wards in July.
“Our people named their needs, weighed them and ranked them,” the governor said, adding that the first-priority project selected in each ward had been incorporated into the 2027 fiscal framework.
Education, infrastructure, agriculture, health and rural development account for N325.45 billion, representing 51.02 per cent of the proposed capital budget.
Basic and Higher Education gets N83.82 billion; Works and Housing, N71.60 billion; Agriculture and Livestock, N65.88 billion; Health, N53.64 billion; and Rural Development, N50.51 billion.
Radda said the investments would support schools, roads, healthcare facilities, food production, livestock development and rural infrastructure.
Reviewing the 2026 budget, the governor said the state had recorded progress in key sectors despite ongoing challenges.
He said total expenditure stood at N295.19 billion, representing 32.88 per cent budget performance as of August 28.
The administration also reported major investments in education, including N13.03 billion for school rehabilitation, N10.53 billion under AGILE and N5.88 billion for primary school interventions.
In healthcare, Radda disclosed that more than N9.59 billion had been invested since 2025 in equipping the Medical Imaging Centre at GARSH, which is being converted into a world-class Cancer and Imaging Centre.
Agriculture received N21.43 billion for fertiliser procurement, while N3.11 billion was spent on rural access roads.
The governor said more than N7.5 billion had also been spent on security operations and assets in 2026.
Radda acknowledged continuing challenges in security, education, healthcare, water supply and infrastructure, but said government would intensify interventions based on community needs.
He commended the State Assembly for its cooperation and urged lawmakers to consider and pass the 2027 Appropriation Bill in good time.
