Gombe: The Gombe State Government has set an ambitious target of generating N39 billion in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to support its 2026 budget. Mr. Salihu Baba-Alkali, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, revealed this during the presentation of the 2026 budget breakdown.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Governor Inuwa Yahaya recently presented a proposed budget of N535,691,983,000 for 2026 to the State House of Assembly. Baba-Alkali stated that the N39 billion IGR target is achievable, considering the success of the state’s Revenue Service in 2025. The projected IGR for 2026 is 19.22 percent higher than the N32.7 billion target for 2025, which was surpassed by 103 percent in October.
The commissioner emphasized that the state government has bolstered the revenue service to help meet the new target. Baba-Alkali highlighted that the IGR would supplement other funds necessary to sustain and complete ongoing projects across the state. He encouraged the service to enhance its revenue collection efficiency to strengthen the state’s financial independence from federal allocations.
Baba-Alkali commended the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service for exceeding its 2025 IGR target and urged residents to support infrastructural development through consistent tax payments. Regarding other funding sources for the 2026 budget, Baba-Alkali noted that the state anticipates N80 billion from Statutory Allocation, N65 billion from VAT, and N132 billion from FAAC receipts. VAT contributions are expected to account for 25.5 percent of the total revenue, while FAAC receipts will make up 41.77 percent.
The state plans to externally borrow N186.7 billion, constituting 82.76 percent of the total capital receipts. Baba-Alkali clarified that the significant external borrowing is primarily a drawdown from multilateral organizations facilitated by the Federal Government on behalf of the states, with major contributions from the World Bank and Islamic Development Bank.