The Katsina State House of Assembly has commenced the 2026 budget defence session for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), under the supervision of the House Committee on Budget and Appropriation, to evaluate proposed expenditures and ensure transparency in budget implementation.
During the opening of the session, the Speaker of the House, Nasir Yahaya Daura, who presided over the exercise, stated that the Assembly would conduct the budget defence with fairness and due process. He emphasized that strict oversight would be carried out to ensure every ministry and agency utilizes allocated funds appropriately. He also noted that the Assembly would continue its oversight visits across the state to verify the execution of government projects as part of its legislative duties.
Rt. Hon. Nasir Yahaya further commended Governor Dikko Umar Radda for presenting a people-centered 2026 budget that focuses on key sectors such as education, security, healthcare, agriculture, and rural development. He described the budget as a reflection of the government’s commitment to improving the living standards of citizens and promoting sustainable growth.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Budget and Appropriation, Honourable Lawal H. Yaro, disclosed that the committee had received several MDAs for budget defence, including the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Ministry of Special Duties, State Directorate for Drugs, Narcotics and Human Trafficking, and the Office of the Political Affairs Adviser to the Governor, as well as the offices of the State and Local Government Auditors-General.
Hikaya Newspaper reports that he added that the committee would continue to engage with other ministries and agencies in the coming days to ensure accountability, fiscal discipline, and fairness in the allocation and utilization of public funds across all sectors of government.