Yobe opens 2026 budget discussions, tasks MDAs on people-oriented projects
By Ahmed I Abba
The Yobe Government on Monday commenced its 2026 budget bilateral discussions with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), urging them to prioritise realistic, people-oriented projects in line with the state’s 25-Year Development Plan.
Declaring the exercise open on Monday in Damaturu, Alhaji Muhammad Gagiyo, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, said the engagement was a crucial stage in the state’s fiscal process.
He said the bilateral discussions were designed to foster collaboration and ensure the 2026 budget would be both practical and transformative in advancing the developmental objectives of the state.
Gagiyo reminded participants that the Budget Call Circular for the 2026 fiscal year was issued on Aug. 7, followed by a reminder on Sept. 2, alongside a timetable for the sessions.
He urged all MDAs to adhere to the schedule, stressing that effective planning and alignment with the administration’s strategic priorities would minimise frequent amendments during implementation.
“The Appropriation Act, once assented to by the Governor, becomes binding law. Every MDA is legally and ethically obliged to implement it conscientiously,” he said.
The commissioner said the ministry had recently partnered with Yobe Civil Society Organisations to capture citizens’ input for inclusion in the 2026 budget. He encouraged MDAs to sustain such engagements to ensure inclusivity and accountability.
He also underscored the importance of pooling planning officers within the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, similar to accounting staff under the Office of the Accountant-General, to strengthen professional capacity.
The Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Buba Kallalawa, lauded the leadership of Gov. Mai Mala Buni for prudent resource management.
He said it had resulted in progress in education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, youth empowerment, and security.
He said the bilateral budget process had become a critical stage in the budget cycle, providing MDAs the opportunity to align their submissions with the government’s broader development agenda.
Kallalawa assured that the House of Assembly would continue to work with the executive to ensure the passage of a realistic and implementable 2026 budget.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the State Government, Baba Mallam Wali, emphasised that the budget was not only a financial plan but also a legal document, reflecting government’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable governance.
He urged MDAs to strictly adhere to guidelines and avoid off-budget expenditures, stressing that fiscal discipline and transparency remained central to the administration’s priorities.
