The Taraba State House of Assembly has approved an estimated ₦653.5 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year, barely three weeks after it was presented to the legislature by the state government.
Speaker of the House, John Bonzena, described the passage of the appropriation bill as one of the core constitutional responsibilities of the Assembly, commending members of the Appropriations Committee for their diligence and thorough scrutiny that led to the final figures.
Bonzena said the timely approval of the budget would enable Governor Agbu Kefas to effectively deliver good governance and the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
According to him, the passage of the budget has made Taraba the first state in the country to approve its 2026 appropriation bill.
“This clearly demonstrates the commitment and love members of this House have for the development of the state,” the Speaker said.
He urged standing and ad hoc committees of the House to intensify their oversight functions to ensure proper implementation of the budget, while lamenting the recurring failure of some heads of ministries, departments and agencies to appear before the Assembly to defend their budget proposals.
The Speaker also appreciated the people of Taraba State for their continued support of the legislature and encouraged lawmakers to remain focused on delivering meaningful representation to their constituencies, despite criticisms.
The appropriation bill, tagged “Development We Can See,” was initially presented at ₦650.63 billion about three weeks ago. It provides for capital expenditure of over ₦457 billion, representing 70.36 per cent of the total budget, while recurrent expenditure stands at ₦192 billion, accounting for 29.64 per cent.
Governor Kefas had explained during the budget presentation that the 2026 budget is anchored on impact and tangible transformation, with strategic emphasis on infrastructure development, particularly roads and transportation, as well as education and healthcare.
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