Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has presented a proposed ₦828.64 billion 2027 budget to the State House of Assembly, with 77 per cent earmarked for capital projects across education, infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare and rural development.
Tagged “Building Your Future IV,” the budget was presented on Tuesday and is designed to extend development interventions to both urban and rural communities.
Radda said ₦637.91 billion, representing 76.98 per cent of the total budget, is proposed for capital expenditure, while ₦190.73 billion, or 23.02 per cent, is allocated to recurrent spending.
The proposed budget is ₦69.23 billion, or 7.71 per cent, lower than the approved 2026 budget. The governor attributed the reduction to a more realistic assessment of projected revenue and expenditure.
“We took a pragmatic, disciplined and realistic view of both revenue and expenditure. We reviewed every available funding source to ensure fiscal balance, strengthen implementation and reduce the risk of shortfalls,” Radda said.
He said Ministries, Departments and Agencies were required to justify their expenditure plans based on the administration’s development blueprint, available resources and the pressing needs of communities.
361 Wards to Get Special Projects
Radda described the proposal as the most participatory budget in Katsina State’s history, saying its priorities were shaped by a Citizens’ Budget Exercise conducted simultaneously across all 361 wards on July 18, 2026.
According to him, residents identified and ranked their needs, with the first-priority project selected in each ward incorporated into the grassroots framework for the 2027 fiscal year.
“Our people named their needs, weighed them and ranked them. The first priority project chosen by citizens in each ward now forms a clear, grassroots framework for the 2027 Fiscal Year. This budget therefore answers the real and pressing needs of our communities, not assumptions made from afar,” the governor stated.
He added that each of the 361 wards would receive a special project of its choice, while community-generated data would guide interventions in agriculture, MSMEs, WASH, women empowerment, environmental protection, climate change and security.
The Social Sector receives the largest sectoral allocation at ₦317.73 billion, representing 38.34 per cent of the budget, followed by the Economic Sector with ₦303.17 billion, or 36.59 per cent.
The Administrative Sector is allocated ₦198.55 billion, while ₦9.19 billion is earmarked for Law and Justice.
Of the capital allocation, five priority sectors will receive a combined ₦325.45 billion. Basic and Higher Education gets ₦83.82 billion, Works and Housing ₦71.60 billion, Agriculture and Livestock ₦65.88 billion, Health ₦53.64 billion and Rural Development ₦50.51 billion.
Together, the five sectors account for 51.02 per cent of the proposed capital budget.
Katsina Reports 2026 Budget Progress
Reviewing the implementation of the 2026 budget as of August 28, Radda said the state had recorded progress in education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, water, rural development and security.
The state recorded ₦267.47 billion in recurrent revenue, including opening balance, representing 44.16 per cent performance, while capital receipts stood at ₦116.41 billion, or 39.84 per cent.
Total recurrent and capital expenditure reached ₦295.19 billion, representing 32.88 per cent overall budget performance as of August.
Recurrent expenditure stood at ₦102.17 billion, while capital expenditure reached ₦193.02 billion, representing 26.57 per cent of the approved capital provision.
Radda expressed confidence that implementation would improve before the end of the year as ongoing projects are completed.
“We expect this figure to close much higher in our third and fourth quarterly reports for 2026,” he said.
Education and Healthcare Investments
The governor highlighted several ongoing infrastructure projects, including the Katsina and Funtua Urban Renewal projects, Musawa-Gingin-Tabanni Road, Kunduru-Kadanya Road, Daura Western Bypass, housing developments and the supply of 30 hybrid buses.
In education, the administration spent ₦13.03 billion on renovations and rehabilitation under the TESS Programme, ₦10.53 billion on secondary school renovation and construction under AGILE and ₦5.88 billion on primary school intervention projects in collaboration with UBEC.
Another ₦3.55 billion was committed to constructing and maintaining three special model schools, with the model school in Radda already completed and academic activities underway.
The state also spent ₦2.07 billion on SSCE examination fees covering WAEC, NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS, while ₦1.26 billion was committed to scholarships for local and foreign students.
In healthcare, Radda said the state currently has 1,751 primary, secondary and tertiary health institutions, with more than 85 per cent functional.
The administration spent ₦4.71 billion on the State Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System Programme in 2026, alongside other investments in hospitals, drugs and health infrastructure.
It also invested more than ₦9.59 billion from 2025 to date in equipping the Medical Imaging Centre at GARSH, Katsina, which will be converted into a World-Class Cancer and Imaging Centre.
Agriculture and Security Remain Priorities
The government committed ₦21.43 billion to fertiliser procurement in partnership with local government councils, alongside ₦479.56 million for irrigation development, ₦441.26 million for improved seeds and ₦269.35 million for seed multiplication.
The state also spent ₦3.11 billion on rural access roads to improve the movement and marketing of agricultural produce.
On security, Radda said the government spent ₦1.34 billion on security assets and ₦6.16 billion on security allowances and operations, bringing total security expenditure to more than ₦7.5 billion in 2026.
He said sustained security efforts had pushed criminal elements into isolated pockets, allowing many affected communities to return to normal life and farmers to resume agricultural activities.
Radda Acknowledges Remaining Challenges
Despite the progress, the governor acknowledged continuing challenges, particularly insecurity in frontline communities, inadequate staffing and learning materials in schools, healthcare pressures, water and sanitation gaps and infrastructure deficits.
He identified malaria, child malnutrition, maternal health and water-borne diseases among the major healthcare concerns reported by communities.
Radda also acknowledged continued pressure on potable water supply, noting that boreholes remain the main source of water for many residents.
He said the government would continue investing in treated water facilities and distribution networks, including the Zobe Phase 1B Water Project, while pursuing its goal of making Katsina the first open defecation-free state in Nigeria.
The governor said community needs assessments and statewide town halls had provided data to help government identify areas requiring urgent intervention.
Governor Commends Katsina Assembly
Radda commended the Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Nasir Yahaya Daura, and members of the legislature for their cooperation with the Executive.
He said the relationship between both arms of government had helped advance policies and programmes supporting socioeconomic development across the state.
“I thank the Honourable Speaker for his exemplary leadership, and every Honourable Member for your dedication to duty and to your constituents. The constructive relationship between the Executive and the Legislature remains vital to good governance,” Radda stated.
He expressed confidence that the Assembly would consider and pass the 2027 Appropriation Bill in good time.
Radda also acknowledged the contributions of the judiciary, traditional institutions, religious bodies, security outfits, development partners and civil servants to the state’s development.
The governor particularly paid tribute to security personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty, describing their sacrifices as acts of courage, patriotism and selfless service.
The 2027 budget presentation took place on September 8, 2026.
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