Benue Assembly Passes ₦695bn 2026 Budget into Law

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The Benue State House of Assembly has passed the 2026 Appropriation Bill, totaling ₦695,011,237,687.28, into law.
The House increased the proposed 2026 budget by ₦89.5 billion from the initial ₦605.5 billion presented by Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia.

The budget was approved on Wednesday following the consideration and adoption of a report by the House Committee on Appropriation, chaired by Hon. Isaac Ochikliye and presented on his behalf by the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Hon. Dauglas Akya, during a plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alfred Berger.
Explaining the rationale behind the budget, the committee noted that the 2026 fiscal plan is aimed at accelerating infrastructure development, improving social service delivery, and stimulating sustainable economic growth across the state.
Among its recommendations, the House urged its committees to guide Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) against extra-budgetary expenditures. It also called for the strengthening of audit and procurement processes to promote transparency, accountability, and effective budget implementation.
Commending the lawmakers, Speaker Rt. Hon. Alfred Berger praised members of the Appropriation Committee for what he described as their diligent and thorough work on the budget.
In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Michael Upaa, the House disclosed that the Clerk of the Assembly has been directed to produce a clean copy of the bill for onward transmission to the Governor for assent.