The Taraba State House of Assembly has given approval to a ₦653.5 billion budget for the 2026 financial year, less than three weeks after the proposal was laid before the legislature by the state government.

Speaking after the passage, the Speaker, John Bonzena, described the exercise as a fundamental constitutional duty of the Assembly and commended members of the Appropriations Committee for their careful review and commitment, which shaped the final figures.

Bonzena said approving the budget early would help the governor deliver effective governance and ensure that residents benefit from democratic dividends.

“With this passage, Taraba has become the first state in the country to pass its budget for the 2026 fiscal year.

“This clearly demonstrates the commitment and love members of this House have for the development of the state,” he said.

The Speaker called on both standing and ad hoc committees to strengthen their oversight roles to guarantee proper execution of the budget. He also expressed concern over the repeated failure of some heads of ministries, departments, and agencies to appear before lawmakers to defend their proposals.

He further appreciated the people of Taraba State for their continued support of the legislature and urged lawmakers to remain undeterred by criticism while staying focused on providing effective representation for their constituencies.

The appropriation bill, titled “Development We Can See,” was initially presented by the governor at ₦650.63 billion roughly three weeks earlier.

The approved budget allocates more than ₦457 billion to capital expenditure, representing 70.36 per cent of the total outlay, while ₦192 billion, or 29.64 per cent, is set aside for recurrent spending.

During the budget presentation, the governor, Kefas, said the 2026 fiscal plan was designed to drive visible impact and measurable transformation, with priority given to infrastructure development, especially roads and transportation, alongside education and healthcare.