When Governor Ahmed Aliyu assumed office in Sokoto State, many had expected the usual script, of lofty promises, recycled appointees, and patchy delivery.
Instead, his administration marked a significant shift by appointing qualified professionals, including Dr. Abubakar M. Zayyana as Commissioner for Budget and Economic Development. This decision signaled a clear focus that the governor is committed to performance, and professionalism over political patronage.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu deserves credit for assembling a capable team that includes Alhaji Muhammad Bello Sifawa, Secretary to the State Government, and Alhaji Aminu Dikko, Chief of Staff. The collective contribution of his dedicated team reflects a governance approach rooted in competence. This no doubt is the reason why the governor is more than delivering on his campaign promises.
In recalling Dr. Zayyana from the United Kingdom, Governor Aliyu not only broke with the traditional patronage system, but made a deliberate choice to reform public finance and development planning.
Dr. Zayyana, a former lecturer in the UK, has quietly led one of the most ambitious budgeting transformations in Sokoto State’s history. The state’s recent budgets are no longer just spreadsheets; they have become real instruments of development. The 2024 approved budget for instance allocated over 30% of ₦270.1 billion of the total budget to education, surpassing the UNESCO benchmark of 26%. In 2025, education still received 25%, with 15% for health and 66% for capital projects , a major shift from consumption to the much needed investment in infrastructure development.
According to Dr. Zayyana what drives him “is the conviction that budgets must not just be numbers on paper, but instruments that tangibly improve lives. Every naira allocated should translate to a better classroom, a functioning clinic, or clean water for a community. That’s the standard we owe our people.”
This shift is not cosmetic. Debts owed to examination bodies like WAEC and NECO have been cleared. Backlog of gratuity from 2015 are being settled. Schools and hospitals are being rehabilitated. The state university and polytechnic have secured long overdue accreditations, because Sokoto is not merely funding education; it is rebuilding it.
Under Dr. Zayyana’s leadership, Sokoto State has transitioned from traditional line-item budgeting to Programme-Based Budgeting (PBB), which links spending directly to results. Ministries, Departments, and Agencies are undergoing continuous training in planning, performance tracking, and outcome measurement. This represents a significant departure from previous practices because the governor is interested in impact. Partnerships with UNICEF and the EU-SUSI project have equally been vital in building this capacity.
Sokoto has also aligned its financial systems with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), a global benchmark for transparent and accountable public finance. This reform places the state ahead of many other states still grappling with the outdated systems. The benefits are substantial, traceable spending, greater trust from development partners, and better alignment between budget inputs and results.
One of the most transformative reforms under Dr. Zayyana is the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Survey, conducted in collaboration with the Redwire Consulting. Unlike the traditional income-based poverty assessments, the MPI measures deprivations across education, healthcare, employment, water, sanitation, and infrastructure – down to the household and ward levels. Conducted between June and July 2025, this survey was cost-effective due to its partnership model and will equip Sokoto State with locally relevant, data-driven insights.
This granular data would enable more precise and responsive policymaking. Many governments allocate resources based on assumptions, often missing the mark. Sokoto State’s approach, grounded in statistical data, would ensure that development efforts are targeted at areas of needs and are effective. The MPI’s true value lies in its potential to guide smarter budget allocations, shape social protection programmes, and build a feedback loop between government and citizens.
Sokoto State’s reforms are not just bold but coherent. The MPI survey feeds into Programme-Based Budgeting by providing accurate data for planning. IPSAS ensures spending is trackable and accountable. Sector strategies in education and health benefit from better-targeted funding. Each reform reinforces the others, creating an integrated system where data, planning, and execution are interconnected.
Dr. Zayyana’s efforts have also extended to strengthening institutional capacity of the various ministries and departments. The introduction of Medium-Term Sector Strategies in key sectors, ongoing collaboration with development partners, and consistent training workshops all suggest that these reforms are designed to last, and not a one-off initiative but a foundation for a systemic, long-term change.
Recognizing that a good budget is only as valuable as its execution, Dr. Zayyana has led several internal reforms. Workshops have focused on Programme-Based Budgeting, performance reporting, and strategic multi-year planning. These sessions, conducted with agencies like UNICEF, have trained MDAs on the updated National Chart of Accounts and on aligning budgets with IPSAS, a reform still unfamiliar to many states.
Sokoto State’s adoption of IPSAS is a standout achievement. As a globally recognized standard, IPSAS brings credibility, transparency, and comparability to public finance. With IPSAS, Sokoto State can now produce transparent and performance-driven financial reports, gaining trust from development partners and laying a foundation for fiscal discipline. Unlike many states that rely on opaque accounting methods, the state is setting a new benchmark for responsible governance.
To complement technical reforms, the Ministry has prioritized participatory governance. Zonal town hall meetings and a state town hall meeting have been held to collate the inputs of the citizens for the 2026 budget. These forums have allowed the Sokoto State citizens to contribute to budget decisions, increasing transparency and aligning policies with actual community needs.
Social protection initiatives, including cash transfers and health insurance schemes, will now be based on credible, disaggregated data from the MPI. This reduces waste and ensures that the most vulnerable are accurately identified and supported.
While Sokoto State’s transformation is still unfolding, it has no doubt already created a model worth emulating. The other states should study this example closely. The integration of international budgeting standards, data-driven planning, and citizen participation shows that reform is not only possible but replicable. With the right tools, people, and political will, governance can shift from rhetoric to results as the case of Sokoto State.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s decision to bring Dr. Zayyana back from the United Kingdom isyielding meaningful results. The commissioner’s experience in public finance is driving real-world change, proving that the return of diaspora professionals and the “home based” ones can significantly boost governance outcomes at the subnational level.
Sokoto State’s journey is far from over. Implementation challenges remain, especially in translating data into sustained action and ensuring that these gains outlive the current administration. But what’s already clear is that Sokoto State is building a template: one where data informs decisions, budgets reflect priorities, and governance works for the people.
By Emmanuel Ado
