Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in Sokoto State government have been tasked to design their budgets using a scientific and realistic approach for the good of the State.
This challenge was thrown by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Abubakar Mohammad Zayyana, at a Training Workshop on the Development of Medium-Term Sector Strategy (MTSS) for 2026-2028 in Health, Education, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Social Protection.
The training workshop was organized by the Ministry in collaboration with UNICEF.
Dr. Zayyana emphasized that MDAs’ budgets should be based on their programs and activities to align with the government’s 9-point Smart Agenda.
He noted that ambiguous budgets or those designed without proper planning are no longer acceptable.
Dr. Zayyana stressed that weak and ambitious planning always leads to failure, also highlighting the importance of program-based budgeting in achieving desired goals, and emphasized the need for teamwork to move the State to greater heights.
The Commissioner for Health Dr. Faruk Abubakar Wurno directed the Directors of Planning in the Ministry and its parastatals to make good projections based on the objectives and programs of the Ministry.
According to him, this would enable the development of a realistic, purposeful, and evidence-based budget for the 2026 fiscal year.
Dr. Wurno described MTSS as a critical step in improving the State budgeting system, and warned that any submitted budget proposal not aligned with the Ministry’s objectives and programs would not be included.
In his remarks, the Chief of UNICEF’s Sokoto Field Office, Mr. Michel Juma called on the Sokoto State government to effectively leverage the support it is receiving on its commitment to transition from traditional mode of budgeting to programe-based budgeting, a shift that UNICEF is assisting with in 9 States across the federation.
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Mr. Juma who spoke through Social Policy Specialist, Malam Isah Ibrhaim also emphasined the need for greater financial investment in social sectors to tackle the persistent issues of multidimensional and monetary poverty that impede overall development in various parts of Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Hajiya Maryam Ahmad Barade, explained that social protection, despite being a multi-sectoral area, had not previously developed an MTSS among the 4 sectors.
She noted that it is however now included, considering the current development priorities of the State.
The Permanent Secretary explained that the partnership between the government and UNICEF is yielding positive results in almost all areas of development in Sokoto State.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
