Debunking the false claim of Jigawa’s poor budget performance
By Lawal Jet Kaugama
In recent days, a number of political voices, particularly from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have sought to paint Jigawa State as lagging behind other states in the area of budget implementation. According to these figures, Jigawa allegedly came “last” in terms of budget performance, a claim that has since been amplified in certain quarters and on social media platforms. While such allegations may generate headlines, a closer examination of the facts reveals that these claims are neither accurate nor fair. Rather, they constitute a deliberate attempt to score cheap political points at the expense of truth.
It is important to stress at the outset that budget performance is not simply a matter of percentages on a spreadsheet. To reduce it to such superficial mathematics betrays either ignorance or deliberate mischief.
Budget performance must be judged in context: the level of resources available to the state, the degree to which planned projects are actually executed, and, most importantly, the tangible impact on the lives of citizens. On each of these counts, Jigawa cannot in good conscience be said to be “last.”
Misrepresentation of statistics
The first flaw in the PDP’s argument lies in the misuse of statistics. Figures quoted to discredit Jigawa were not drawn from any authoritative, verifiable source such as the National Bureau of Statistics, the Budget Office of the Federation, or reputable independent monitors. Instead, vague percentages are thrown around without explanation of methodology.
In budget monitoring, methodology is everything. For example, is budget performance measured strictly in terms of capital expenditure releases, or does it include recurrent expenditure? Is it based on cash-backed projects or on mere approvals? Without answers to these questions, any so-called ranking is at best incomplete and at worst misleading.
Furthermore, some states inflate their reported budget performance by padding figures or rushing to “award” projects on paper towards the end of the fiscal year. Jigawa, by contrast, is known for a more conservative and transparent approach. If one state reports 90 per cent performance but leaves behind abandoned projects, while another reports 65 per cent but completes every project it started, who is truly performing better? To argue that Jigawa is “last” simply because its percentage does not conform to an arbitrary yardstick is to value form over substance.
Evidence of real development
Contrary to the claims of poor performance, Jigawa has consistently demonstrated prudent financial management and visible results on the ground. Key sectors such as agriculture, education, healthcare, and infrastructure have benefitted from disciplined spending in recent years. For example, the expansion of irrigation schemes has empowered thousands of farmers to move from subsistence to commercial production, boosting both food security and household incomes. Similarly, the upgrading of health facilities across local government areas has improved access to quality healthcare, particularly for women and children.
In the education sector, Jigawa continues to invest heavily in basic education, teacher training, and the construction of classrooms to address out-of-school children. Roads linking rural communities to markets are being constructed and rehabilitated with a focus on durability rather than cosmetic ribbon-cutting ceremonies. These interventions may not make for sensational headlines, but they constitute genuine budget performance in the truest sense of the term: improving lives.
Prudent fiscal discipline
Jigawa has also been recognised nationally for maintaining one of the most transparent and fiscally disciplined administrations. The state has consistently passed the Open Government Partnership benchmarks and ranked highly in the States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) assessments backed by the World Bank. These are not partisan assessments but independent validations of sound financial governance. If Jigawa were truly “last” in budget performance, how would it continue to receive commendations from such credible bodies?
It is worth noting that budget implementation is not solely about spending but also about the quality of that spending. Jigawa has resisted the temptation to run into unsustainable debts or indulge in white-elephant projects designed to impress rather than serve. Instead, it prioritises projects that directly affect the welfare of the people. In an era where many states are groaning under heavy debt burdens, Jigawa’s cautious and disciplined approach deserves praise rather than derision.
The politics behind the allegation
One must therefore ask: why would PDP chieftains spread the narrative that Jigawa is last in budget performance? The answer is not far-fetched. With the 2027 general elections on the horizon, opposition figures are desperate to discredit the ruling party’s record in states like Jigawa where governance has been relatively stable and people-centred. By creating the impression of failure, they hope to weaken public confidence in the government and open room for political exploitation.
Yet, such tactics are both short-sighted and counterproductive. The people of Jigawa are not blind; they can see the roads being built, the schools being rehabilitated, and the hospitals being equipped. They know the difference between propaganda and reality. Indeed, attempts to malign the government with baseless statistics may only deepen public mistrust of those spreading the falsehoods.
In onclusion, the claim that Jigawa came last in budget performance is a political fabrication rather than a reflection of reality. It ignores context, misrepresents statistics, and discounts the tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens. Budget performance should be measured not by dubious percentages but by prudent fiscal management, transparency, and the delivery of real services. On these grounds, Jigawa continues to hold its head high.
Opposition parties would do well to engage in constructive criticism grounded in fact rather than in propaganda. Jigawa’s people deserve a politics of ideas, not a politics of deception. To insist otherwise is to do a disservice not only to the government but also to the very citizens whose welfare the budget is designed to serve.
Lawal Jet Kaugama, a commentator on national issues, writes from Kano