The governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has tabled a major ₦861.33 billion budget proposal for 2026 as part of a newly dubbed “Budget of Stability and Growth.” What stands out is the sharp tilt toward development: a massive ₦714 billion, about 83% of the total, is earmarked for capital expenditure, while recurrent costs are kept at around ₦147.3 billion (17%).
The proposal underlines the administration’s ambition to rebuild and reinvigorate the state’s infrastructure from roads to water systems, health facilities to agriculture, as well as strengthen institutions and public service delivery. Governor Dauda Lawal described the budget as a strategic roadmap to scale up ongoing reforms, accelerate development across all 14 local government areas, and reinforce sectors like security, agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure and social empowerment.
According to the proposal, core allocations include major road construction, upgrading water supply networks, boosting irrigation and climate-resilient farming, improving primary health centres, upgrading schools and tertiary institutions, all part of an integrated plan to address long-standing deficits in infrastructure and public welfare. The governor emphasized that the lean recurrent expenditure indicates fiscal discipline and a deliberate shift away from bloated administrative costs toward tangible development.
This 2026 proposal marks a continuation and escalation of the development-oriented budgeting that started in 2023/2024, where the state shifted from heavy recurrent spending toward more capital outlays.
By dedicating 83% of its budget to capital investments, Zamfara aims to jump-start economic growth, boost job creation through infrastructure and agricultural projects, and reduce long-term dependency on federal allocations. This strategy could enhance private investment, increase internally generated revenue (IGR), and help stabilise the state’s fiscal health.
