The Acting Governor of Borno State, Umar Kadafur, has signed the N892.4 billion 2026 Appropriation Bill passed by the State House of Assembly into law.
Governor Babagana Zulum had earlier presented a N890.3 billion budget proposal to the Assembly on December 29, 2025. However, lawmakers reviewed the estimates and increased the total sum by N2.37 billion before passage.
Speaking during a brief signing ceremony at the Government House in Maiduguri on Tuesday, Kadafur commended the Assembly for the swift consideration and passage of the budget, noting that it demonstrated transparency and commitment to public interest.
“I appreciate the legislators’ meticulous, diligent and sustained efforts, despite the prevailing economic realities and fiscal constraints,” the acting governor said.
He also praised the Assembly for the timely passage of the Appropriation Bill alongside the amended Local Government Law, which extends the tenure of local government chairmen and councillors from two to three years.
According to Kadafur, the amendment is aimed at strengthening grassroots governance and improving service delivery across the state. He described the signing of the budget as the administration’s financial roadmap for 2026, reflecting a shared sense of responsibility and urgency in providing a sound framework for governance.
The acting governor assured residents of the government’s commitment to prudence, accountability and value for money in the execution of projects and programmes outlined in the budget.
The development marks the first time an acting governor has performed the constitutional duty of signing an appropriation bill into law in the state’s history, following Governor Zulum’s annual leave and the formal transfer of power to his deputy.
Earlier, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, explained that the budget was reviewed after submissions from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), leading to the N2.37 billion increase, particularly in the health and education sectors.
