The Kaduna State Government says increased allocations from the Federation Account under President Bola Tinubu have enabled it to clear about ₦18 billion in inherited pension and gratuity arrears and significantly increase spending on infrastructure, agriculture, education, healthcare and other sectors.
The state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, disclosed this in an interview with PUNCH Online on Saturday.
Maiyaki said the administration of Governor Uba Sani inherited approximately ₦24 billion in outstanding pension and gratuity liabilities, in addition to foreign and domestic debts.
According to him, the government has so far cleared about ₦18 billion of the inherited pension and gratuity arrears.
He also said 115 road projects were currently ongoing across Kaduna State’s 23 local government areas, with more than half already completed. The projects cover over 1,400 kilometres of roads in both rural and urban communities.
Maiyaki explained that the road projects were intended to improve transportation, connect farmers to markets, enhance access to healthcare and strengthen security.
He highlighted a 35-kilometre road linking about 76 communities, particularly farming settlements, as one of the projects with significant economic benefits.
Agriculture Receives Major Funding Boost
The commissioner said agriculture had also benefited substantially from increased state revenue.
According to him, Kaduna’s agricultural allocation rose from ₦1.4 billion in 2023 to more than ₦100 billion in 2026.
He said the increase had supported the distribution of fertiliser and other farm inputs, as well as investments in irrigation, mechanised farming and extension services.
The state distributed 400 trucks of NPK and urea fertiliser to farmers in 2024 and another 500 trucks in 2025, while 150,000 smallholder farmers are targeted to receive fertiliser in 2026.
Maiyaki claimed Kaduna is currently the country’s leading producer of maize, tomatoes and ginger, while ranking second in soybean production.
Education Allocation Exceeds 25 Per Cent
Maiyaki further disclosed that the state allocated more than ₦264 billion to education in its 2026 budget.
He said the funds had been used to construct and renovate classrooms, recruit teachers and improve infrastructure in tertiary institutions.
According to him, more than 75 secondary schools have been constructed, while thousands of classrooms have been renovated.
He added that the estimated number of out-of-school children in Kaduna had fallen from about 550,000 in 2023 to approximately 187,000 in 2026.
CNG Buses Transport Four Million Passengers
The commissioner also said the state government had deployed 100 compressed natural gas buses to provide free transportation for civil servants, students, traders, artisans and other residents.
He claimed that the buses transported about four million passengers within one year, saving beneficiaries an estimated ₦4 billion.
Government Links Development to Improved Security
On security, Maiyaki attributed improved freedom of movement across the state to road construction, social interventions and the Kaduna Peace Model.
He claimed that Kaduna had not recorded a religious conflict in the three years since Governor Uba Sani assumed office.
The commissioner maintained that the administration's investments in infrastructure, agriculture, education, transportation and peace-building had contributed to the state's development.
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