Senator Abubakar Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning
Senator Abubakar Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning has said that the Tinubu’s led administration economic reforms have significantly impacted the Northern region than any government.
He spoke during his presentation to the Sir Amadu Bello Memorial Foundation, which organised a two-day interactive session on government-citizen engagement organised in Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna.
The evenet with the theme, ‘’Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizen Engagement for National Unity’’, was well attended by government functionaries.
Bagudu stated that the president’s bold economic reforms had increased revenue for states, even as their debts had fallen, freeing up more resources for social and infrastructural development.
He said this situation had greatly benefitted the 19 northern states, which federally allocated revenue had increased significantly since Tinubu took office on May 29, 2023.
The minister explained that Tinubu’s reforms led to significant revenue growth for subnational governments, pointing out that between May 2023 and June 2025, total net statutory revenue and VAT allocation to states and local governments (excluding EMT levy, FX gains, and augmentations) more than doubled, rising from N458.81 billion to N991.81 billion.
According to him, this reflects an increase of N533 billion or 116.17% across the federation.
According to him, “By ending the fuel subsidy, President Tinubu made a hard but necessary call—liberating trillions of naira to expand federal allocations by over 340%. States now have the means to invest in their future.”
He cited Gombe State, which had the sharpest rise, from N6.69 billion in May 2023 to N24.91 billion in 2025, amounting to a 272.35% increase.
He also referenced Kaduna State, which allocation increased from N11.94 billion to N42.01 billion, a rise of N30.07 billion, a 251.84% leap.
According to him, a regional breakdown of the benefits to the north showed that the north central’s share of revenue increased by 145%; the North East 149%; and the North West 143%.
He said: “These show how removing subsidies and enhancing revenue-sharing mechanisms have directly benefited state governments, enabling them to fund their development priorities.’’
‘’The Tinubu administration at the centre remains committed to fiscal transparency, equitable distribution, and continued collaboration with states and LGAs,’’ Bagudu told the audience.
He emphasised that the president’s administration had demonstrated a comprehensive and strategic approach to addressing the economic, social and governance challenges in northern Nigeria.
He said further: “By implementing bold reforms, investing in critical infrastructure, empowering local governments, and prioritising security and social welfare, the administration is working to create an environment conducive to sustainable development and improved quality of life for the people of the region.’’
Bagudu buttressed his submission by citing key infrastructural projects of the federal government in the north, including the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway, the dualization of the Kano-Maiduguri Road, the Sokoto-Gusau-Funtua-Zaria Highway, the Abuja-Keffi-Makurdi Road, the Ilorin-Jebba-Minna Road, the Abuja-Lokoja Road, and the Kano-Katsina Road dualization.
Other road projects he mentioned included the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway, the Malando-Garin Baka-Ngaski-Warra Road, the Bid-Zungeru-Kagara Road, the Gombe-Biu Road, the Yola-Numan-Jalingo Road, the Kaduna-Kano Railway, the Light Rail Projects in Kaduna, Kano, and the FCT, and the AKK Gas Pipeline.
