Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has presented a ₦605.5 billion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly.
The budget, themed “Rural Development, Livelihood Support and Sustained Growth,” represents a 10 per cent increase over the 2025 appropriation and prioritises rural transformation and economic stability.
Governor Alia said the proposal was designed to address years of underinvestment in rural communities, which he described as the backbone of food production and cultural heritage in the state.
A breakdown of the estimates shows that ₦281.09 billion, representing 46.4 per cent of the budget, is allocated to recurrent expenditure, covering salaries, the minimum wage, and overhead costs. This reflects a 21.69 per cent increase over the revised 2025 recurrent spending.
Capital expenditure is pegged at ₦342.42 billion to fund infrastructure, livelihood support, and other development projects aimed at stimulating rural economic growth.
Speaking during the presentation, Speaker of the House, Alfred Emberga, commended the governor for presenting the third budget of his administration and assured that the Assembly would give it speedy consideration.
He urged Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to cooperate with legislative committees during the budget defence to ensure the passage of a transparent and people-oriented 2026 budget.
