By Thompson Yamput
Gov. Ahmed Ododo of Kogi on Thursday presented a draft budget of N820.49 billion for 2026 fiscal year to the state executive council.
Mr Asiwaju Idris, the State’s Commissioner for Finance, disclosed this to newsmen at the end of the State Executive Council meeting in Lokoja.
Idris said that the draft budget tagged: “Shared Prosperity” was approved by the governor for presentation to the State House of Assembly for consideration.
Idris said, “this N820.49 billion draft budget represents a 35.7 per cent increase from the 2025 revised budget, signaling a new era of sustainable growth and inclusive development in the state.
“The budget focuses on five key areas; boosting internal revenue, strengthening debt recovery, fostering a business-friendly environment, deepening public-private partnerships, and ensuring project completion.
“The 2026 budget proposals reflect a robust and balanced financial strategy emphasising enhanced revenue generation, strategic expenditure control, and a strong commitment to capital investment.”
The Commissioner pledged effective monitoring of revenue inflows and strict fiscal discipline, which he said, were critical to achieving the desired outcomes.
Also speaking, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the Commissioner for Information, said that the state government had made significant progress in addressing insecurity.
Fanwo said that the governor had directed all the local government councils to take over land consent authority to curb fraudulent deals, illegal mining and insecurity.
The commissioner explained that the meeting also addressed critical issues, including access to clean water, road safety, and land administration reforms. (ephemeralnews.com.ng)
