The Sokoto State Government has asked its Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to step up efforts in generating revenue. The move is to make the state financially stronger and to keep development projects running smoothly.
The call was made by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Abubakar Mohammad Zayyana, during meetings on the proposed 2026 budgets of the MDAs. The discussions were held at the ministry’s conference hall in Sokoto.
Dr. Zayyana explained that revenue generation should be the top priority. He said, “The budget depends on revenue, not just expenditure, because it is revenue that funds expenditure.”
He praised some MDAs for sticking to their budget limits and urged all agencies to submit realistic budget plans that match the government’s priorities.
During the meeting, commissioners including Prof. Isah Maishanu (Higher Education), Prof. Ahmad Ladan Ala (Basic and Secondary Education), Prof. Attahiru Ahmad Sifawa (Science and Technology), Dr. Umar Abubakar Wurno (Health), and Mr. Sambo Bello Danchadi (Information) presented their ministries’ proposals.
They promised to follow the new financial guidelines and described the budget talks as useful and timely in helping them prepare more practical 2026 budgets.
Other commissioners such as Mr. Sanusi Danfulani (Energy and Petroleum) and those in charge of Social Welfare, Livestock and Fisheries, the State Independent Electoral Commission, and the State House of Assembly Service Commission praised Dr. Zayyana’s new ideas. They said the approach would strengthen fiscal discipline and help produce budgets that reflect both reality and government priorities.
Earlier, the Director of Budget, Mr. Buhari Umar Musheshe, explained the three key principles guiding the budget discussions: ceiling, ranking, and description. He said MDAs must stay within their approved ceilings, rank projects by importance, and give clear descriptions to support Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s nine-point “Smart Agenda.”
Other MDAs that presented their budgets included Justice, Religious Affairs, Water Resources, Home Affairs, the Office of the Auditor General, the State High Court, and the Shari’ah Court, among others.
The session was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Maryam Ahmad Barade, the Chairman of the State Coalition of Civil Society Organizations, Comrade Bello Gwadabawa, and representatives of the State Internal Revenue Service.
