By Sani Umar
Development economists have long maintained that no society attains sustainable prosperity by relying solely on political promises or short-term consumption. Lasting progress is built through deliberate investment in human capital and physical infrastructure.
Education equips citizens with the knowledge and skills to drive innovation and productivity; healthcare preserves a healthy and productive workforce; while infrastructure provides the foundation upon which commerce, agriculture and industry flourish. Governments that consistently invest in these sectors are, in reality, investing in the future rather than merely financing the present.
This development philosophy appears to have shaped the policy direction of the Sokoto State Government under Governor Ahmed Aliyu. Since assuming office in 2023, the administration has consistently prioritised education, healthcare and infrastructure as the pillars of its Nine-Point Smart Innovative Agenda. Rather than treating these sectors as routine expenditure, the government has approached them as strategic investments capable of transforming the state’s economic and social landscape.
Nothing illustrates this commitment better than the state’s budgeting pattern. The 2026 Appropriation Law, valued at N758.7 billion, demonstrates a deliberate emphasis on capital development. Education received approximately N116 billion , representing about 15 per cent of the total budget and broadly aligning with UNESCO’s benchmark for education financing. The health sector received over N122.7 billion, accounting for more than 16 per cent of the budget, surpassing the 15 per cent target agreed upon by African leaders under the Abuja Declaration.
Equally significant is the administration’s decision to keep recurrent expenditure at only 19 per cent, thereby directing the overwhelming majority of public resources towards capital projects and long-term development.
These figures are more than budgetary statistics, they reveal government priorities. Budgets are policy statements expressed in financial terms, and the allocation of substantial resources to education, healthcare and infrastructure sends a clear signal that the administration recognises these sectors as the principal drivers of sustainable development.
Education has perhaps emerged as one of the greatest beneficiaries of this policy orientation. Across the state, schools are being renovated and reconstructed, classrooms furnished, teaching materials supplied and learning environments improved. Through the AGILE programme, hundreds of schools have undergone rehabilitation, while thousands of pieces of classroom furniture have been distributed to create more conducive learning conditions.
The administration has equally demonstrated that educational development extends beyond physical infrastructure. Recognising that motivated teachers remain central to quality education, the government recently approved a 40 per cent increase in the consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) for lecturers in Sokoto State University and Shehu Shagari University of Education. This intervention, which received commendation from the Academic Staff Union of Universities, reflects an appreciation that quality education depends as much on human resources as it does on physical facilities.
From a public policy perspective, this distinction is significant. Economists differentiate between expenditure and investment. Expenditure merely consumes public resources, whereas investment creates assets that continue generating value for many years. A renovated school continues producing educated citizens, a motivated lecturer shapes generations of graduates, and strengthened tertiary institutions contribute to research, innovation and technological advancement. Viewed from this perspective, education funding should be regarded as capital formation rather than recurrent expenditure.
The health sector reflects a similar commitment. Considerable resources have been invested in renovating hospitals, upgrading primary healthcare centres, expanding access to essential medical services and recruiting healthcare personnel. Thousands of nurses, midwives and community health workers have been recruited and deployed across the state, particularly to underserved rural communities. New general hospitals are also being established to improve access to specialised healthcare services.
These investments carry implications that extend beyond healthcare alone. A healthier population is inherently more productive. Improved maternal and child healthcare reduces preventable deaths, effective disease control lowers healthcare costs for families, and accessible medical services enhance labour productivity. In development economics, healthcare spending is widely recognised not merely as social welfare but as an investment in human capital capable of stimulating long-term economic growth.
Infrastructure development represents another defining feature of the administration. Across Sokoto State, numerous road construction projects have connected communities, facilitated agricultural activities and improved transportation. Urban renewal projects have transformed sections of the state capital, while rural roads have opened farming communities to larger markets and public services.
Equally important is the ongoing investment in water supply infrastructure. The rehabilitation of ageing water facilities, expansion of distribution networks and modernisation of water schemes seek to address challenges that have accumulated over several decades. Reliable water supply improves public health, supports commercial activities and enhances the overall quality of urban life.
Infrastructure possesses what economists describe as a “multiplier effect.” Every kilometre of road constructed reduces transportation costs, facilitates trade, attracts private investment and generates employment opportunities. Improved water systems reduce the prevalence of water-borne diseases, lower business operating costs and encourage industrial development. Infrastructure spending, therefore, should not be viewed merely as construction activity but as an economic stimulus capable of producing returns far beyond its initial cost.
The cumulative effect of these investments extends directly to the quality of governance itself. Good governance is measured not only by political stability or administrative efficiency but by the ability of government to utilise public resources in ways that improve citizens’ lives. Schools, hospitals, roads and water facilities are tangible indicators of responsive governance because they directly address the everyday needs of the people.
Citizens ultimately evaluate governments through practical experience rather than political rhetoric. Parents judge educational policies by the schools their children attend. Patients assess healthcare reforms by the quality of medical services they receive. Farmers measure infrastructure development by the ease with which they transport produce to markets. It is these everyday experiences that determine public confidence in government far more than speeches or campaign promises.
Perhaps one of the administration’s most commendable fiscal decisions has been its emphasis on capital expenditure. By limiting recurrent spending and allocating a larger proportion of available resources to development projects, the government has demonstrated an appreciation that sustainable growth depends upon building durable public assets rather than expanding administrative consumption. Such fiscal discipline strengthens the state’s development capacity while laying a foundation for future economic expansion.
Nevertheless, sustaining this momentum requires deliberate policy choices. Development is not a one-off achievement but a continuous process requiring consistency, accountability and institutional strength.
First, future budgets must continue prioritising education, healthcare and infrastructure despite fluctuations in national revenue. Development gains accumulated over several years can easily be reversed through inconsistent funding or abrupt policy changes.
Second, greater emphasis should be placed on maintenance. Roads, hospitals, schools and water facilities represent substantial public investments whose value can only be preserved through routine maintenance. Without a strong maintenance culture, governments often incur enormous costs replacing assets that could have remained functional for decades.
Third, transparency and accountability must continue to guide project implementation. Regular monitoring, independent evaluation and public disclosure of project performance will strengthen public confidence while ensuring that budgetary allocations produce measurable outcomes.
Fourth, collaboration with development partners, the private sector and local communities should be expanded. Such partnerships bring additional financial resources, technical expertise and community ownership, all of which enhance the sustainability of development programmes.
Equally important is the need to institutionalise these development priorities beyond the tenure of any single administration. History offers numerous examples of promising projects abandoned following political transitions, resulting in wasted resources and lost opportunities. Sustainable development requires continuity. Successive administrations should view ongoing investments as state assets rather than partisan initiatives.
Ultimately, the hallmark of visionary leadership is not simply the number of projects initiated but the number of lives transformed. By prioritising education, healthcare and infrastructure, the Sokoto State Government has demonstrated an understanding that development begins with investment in people and the systems that support them.
If this commitment is sustained through prudent financial management, policy consistency, effective maintenance and unwavering accountability, Sokoto State will not only consolidate its developmental gains but also emerge as a compelling example of how strategic public investment can serve as the foundation of enduring good governance. The true beneficiaries will not merely be today’s citizens but future generations whose opportunities will be shaped by the decisions being made today.
