The Gombe State Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to generate N39 billion in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to support the financing and implementation of its 2026 fiscal year budget. The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Salihu Baba-Alkali, during the public presentation of the detailed budget breakdown, shortly after Governor Inuwa Yahaya formally presented the proposed spending plan to the State House of Assembly.
According to Baba-Alkali, the targeted N39 billion marks a 19.22% increase over the N32.7 billion projected for 2025. He described the target as both bold and achievable, noting that it aligns with the solid performance of the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service (GIRS), which has continued to strengthen its operational efficiencies and collection capacity. The commissioner revealed that for the 2025 fiscal year, the GIRS exceeded its revenue projection by 103% well before year-end, demonstrating an enhanced revenue-generation framework.
Baba-Alkali emphasized that ramping up IGR is essential for sustaining the state’s ongoing capital projects, many of which form part of the administration’s drive for infrastructural renewal and socioeconomic development. He reiterated that the enhanced revenue would complement other funding sources required to complete large-scale developments across the state.
The commissioner commended the GIRS for its exceptional performance, urging the agency to continue refining its strategies and improving its revenue collection mechanisms. He also called on residents to fulfill their civic responsibility by paying taxes regularly. According to him, sustained citizen cooperation would help broaden the state’s fiscal base and significantly reduce dependency on federal allocations.
Beyond IGR, the Gombe State Government is counting on substantial inflows from the Federation Allocation Accounts Committee (FAAC) and statutory sources to support its spending commitments in 2026. Baba-Alkali disclosed that the state expects N80 billion from statutory allocations, N65 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT), and approximately N132 billion from FAAC receipts. He noted that VAT would account for 25.5% of total projected revenue, while FAAC allocations will represent 41.77%.
The commissioner further stated that Gombe will rely on external borrowing—mostly from multilateral development institutions—to finance its capital-intensive projects. Approximately N186.7 billion in external loans is anticipated, representing 82.76% of the state’s capital receipts. Baba-Alkali clarified that such loans are typically facilitated through the Federal Government on behalf of states, with major sources including the World Bank and the Islamic Development Bank.
Despite the reliance on external loans and federal allocations, the commissioner stressed the administration’s long-term goal to reduce dependency on central revenue. Strengthening IGR, he said, is fundamental to achieving fiscal sustainability and granting the state greater autonomy in budgeting and development planning.
Recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) highlights the growing importance of IGR nationwide. Between 2021 and 2024, Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory generated a combined N10.88 trillion in internal revenue. Additionally, states collectively received N4.43 trillion from FAAC between January and July 2025, with the highest allocations going to Delta, Rivers, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa States.
The Gombe State Government’s proactive stance signals a commitment to strengthening revenue mobilization, improving fiscal management, and ensuring the continued execution of transformative projects across the state.
