₦7.16 Billion, Your Priorities: What Zaria’s 2026 Budget Can Do

Zaria Local Government plans to spend ₦7.16 billion in 2026.

It’s a significant public commitment. The key question is:
How well does it reflect what Zaria’s communities are asking for?

The data shows that Zaria currently generates about ₦3 for every ₦100 it spends. The remaining ₦97 comes from Abuja, reflecting a structural pattern of federal dependency tied to oil revenue that affects local governments across Nigeria.

Local revenue collection presents a clear opportunity for growth. In the first half of 2025, the LG set a target of ₦302.6 million and collected ₦12.1 million — a 4% performance rate that points to significant untapped potential in the local tax base.

Closing that gap matters directly to communities:
roads residents have been calling for, schools awaiting equipment, and health centres that communities want to see fully operational.

Of the funds that come in, nearly half goes to salaries and less than one-third reaches development. Communities have a stake in whether that balance shifts — and this analysis gives them the information to make that case.

There are meaningful commitments worth noting: no new debt has been taken on, and funds have been allocated across all wards. The analysis also identifies areas where communities are still waiting for investment — water, electricity, and street lighting — and where overheads are rising relative to capital projects.

At its core, this is about priorities, choices, and the power citizens have to shape how public money is used.

At CISD, we believe budgets are social contracts. Citizens who understand them are already equipped to question them — and when they do, accountability follows.

We have broken down the Zaria 2026 budget into a detailed, plain-language report and visual infographics.

Download the full analysis here:

Explore the data. Share it. Ask questions.

₦7.16 billion is being spent in your name. You have every right to know where it goes — and to shape what comes next.