President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms have significantly increased revenue allocations to northern Nigerian states, driving regional development.
Speaking in Kaduna, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, praised the reforms’ impact on the north.
He addressed participants at the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation’s two-day session on government-citizen engagement and electoral accountability.
Over 60 northern political leaders, ministers, governors, and Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) members attended the high-level strategic engagement.
Bagudu stated that Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy freed trillions of naira, boosting federal allocations to state governments.
According to him, the monthly statutory and VAT revenue to states rose from ₦458.81bn in May 2023 to ₦991.81bn.
This increase, over a 13-month span, represents a remarkable 116.17% growth in national allocation to states and LGAs.
He stressed that the reforms, while initially painful, created fiscal space for funding infrastructure and social investment nationwide.
Notably, northern states have been among the largest beneficiaries of the expanded revenue allocation under Tinubu’s government.
Gombe State recorded a 272.35% rise in allocation, jumping from ₦6.69bn to ₦24.91bn between 2023 and 2025.
Kaduna State also saw its allocation grow significantly from ₦11.94bn to ₦42.01bn, marking a 251.84% increase.
Bagudu broke down the regional benefits: North Central revenue rose by 145%, North East by 149%, and North West by 143%.
“These numbers clearly show how President Tinubu’s bold decisions are strengthening state capacity for grassroots development,” he said.
He emphasized that the removal of fuel subsidy enabled oil revenues to flow directly into the Federation Account.
This, in turn, improved budget planning and allowed states to implement long-overdue development projects and fiscal reforms.
The Kaduna meeting also reinforced commitments to good governance, accountability, and the transparent use of public resources.