The Director-General of the Kaduna State Public Procurement Authority (KADPPA), Sanusi Yero, disclosed the figure. He spoke at the opening of a major international industry summit in Kaduna. The event focuses on procurement and supply chain management. Yero said the summit strengthened Kaduna's reputation as a leading reformer. He detailed several pioneering steps the state has taken.
Kaduna was the first subnational government in Nigeria to adopt the national Public Procurement Act. It was also the first state to join the Open Government Partnership. The state pioneered a full electronic procurement system. It also signed a national electronic procurement framework on behalf of all 36 states. In 2023, Kaduna became the first subnational to join the CoST Infrastructure Transparency Initiative.
A key reform was the approval of a gender-responsive procurement policy in 2024. This policy aims to expand economic participation for women-owned businesses. Yero also said reforms to advance payment rules have helped eliminate abandoned projects. These changes prevented future contract liabilities.
Reforms Anchor Broader Budget and Development Goals
The reported savings come as the state government prepares for a significant new budget year. Governor Uba Sani recently presented a 2026 appropriation bill of 985.9 billion naira to the state assembly. He described the budget as a people-centered plan. It aims to consolidate reforms in security, infrastructure, education, and rural development.
The draft budget allocates a large portion to capital projects. About 71% of the total, or roughly 699.6 billion naira, is for capital expenditure. This focus on building infrastructure over routine costs is a marked shift. Education and infrastructure each received 25% of the total budget allocation. Health received 15%, and agriculture 11%.
A notable feature is the direct allocation of funds to grassroots projects. Governor Sani announced that each of Kaduna's 255 wards will receive 100 million naira. This money is for community-identified projects. Officials have described this as Nigeria's largest grassroots budget model. The governor stated the budget was formed through wide public consultations.
These consultations included traditional rulers, civil society groups, and business leaders. They also involved farmers, traders, and persons with disabilities. The governor said this process strengthened participatory governance. It also improved accountability.
Procurement Savings Fuel Key Sector Investments
Officials connect the savings from procurement to tangible investments across the state. In his budget speech, Governor Sani listed several sectoral achievements partly enabled by prudent financial management.
· Transportation: The state is executing 140 road projects covering 1,335 kilometers. Sixty-four roads have been completed. A new Bus Rapid Transit system is under development. It will be the first in northern Nigeria. A major interstate bus terminal is 75% complete.
· Education: In 2025 alone, the state reopened 535 schools. It returned over 300,000 out-of-school children to classrooms. The government also cut tuition fees at state-owned tertiary institutions by 40%.
· Agriculture: State investment in agriculture grew dramatically. It rose from 1.4 billion naira in 2023 to 74.2 billion naira in 2025. This funded the distribution of free fertilizer and support for farmers.
· Pensions: The government also recently approved 2.32 billion naira for pension and gratuity payments. This brings the total paid to retirees in 2025 to 6.68 billion naira.
Broader Context and National Recognition
The push for procurement reform in Nigeria addresses a major governance challenge. Public procurement is a high-risk area for corruption. In sub-Saharan Africa, procurement can account for up to half of all government spending. This makes system efficiency critical for development.
Kaduna's gender-responsive policy is being watched nationally. At a recent conference in Abuja, entrepreneur Aisha Babangida urged other states to adopt Kaduna's model. She leads the Women Entrepreneurs Association. Babangida called the state's framework a blueprint for national growth.
Her call aligns with research highlighting systemic gaps. A 2024 Brookings Institution report found Nigeria's public procurement is still male-dominated. The report noted that only Ekiti State has formal set-asides for women-owned businesses. It recommended simplifying processes to help small businesses and women compete.
The Brookings research also explored using behavioral science "nudges" to fight corruption. It suggested these tools could encourage more ethical decisions by officials. The report cited Kaduna officials as seeking collaboration on transparency and service delivery.
Fostering Professional and Academic Collaboration
The summit where the savings were announced underscores the technical side of these reforms. It was organized by Kaduna State University's Centre for Procurement, Logistics and Supply Chain Management. The acting director of the centre, Safiya Abubakar, said the event shapes the future of global systems.
She said procurement and logistics drive the global economy. They must be efficient and resilient to withstand disruptions. The summit examined governance reforms, sustainability, and fraud prevention. Abubakar said Kaduna's gender-responsive model is now a reference point. It could serve as a global research case study.
A chairman of state procurement directors also spoke at the event. He called for continuous research and standardized training. Collaboration between academia and regulators is crucial. It helps strengthen reforms across Nigeria.
The announcement of 22 billion naira in savings provides a measurable outcome for Kaduna's procurement reforms. It demonstrates a clear link between policy changes and fiscal responsibility. These savings contribute to a larger financial strategy. This strategy prioritizes capital projects and community-led development.
The state's efforts in transparency and inclusive procurement are gaining external validation. They are seen as models for other states and subjects of international research. The continued focus on professional training and system digitization suggests these reforms are intended to be permanent. They aim to change how government business is conducted in Kaduna State.