Zamfara State has ranked among the top 10 in the Fiscal Viability Index, according to a report by BudgIT released on Monday. The report, titled “State of States 2026: States’ Performance on Pillar B/Fiscal Viability,” highlights fiscal performance for 35 states in Nigeria for 2025.
This announcement follows praise from Emir Muhammadu Sanusi, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, who commended Governor Dauda Lawal’s significant achievements over the last three years.
BudgIT defines its Fiscal Viability ranking as a measure of whether a state can operate without federal support. The report states that higher-ranking states manage their expenditures more effectively relative to their available revenue. True fiscal sustainability is when a state funds its public salaries and obligations using its own resources, according to BudgIT.
Zamfara came in 10th place on the Fiscal Viability Index with a score of 74.97%. Enugu topped the list at 98.38%, followed by Bayelsa at 88.83%. Notably, Zamfara is listed as the second-least indebted state with a debt per capita of N19,464. It is one of only three northern states to feature in the top ten alongside Gombe, which ranks seventh, and Niger in ninth place.
The report also explores how states generate revenue, manage spending, and prioritise critical sectors such as health and education. The assessment method used this year emphasises the impact of public spending on development across four pillars: revenue performance (40%), fiscal viability (30%), debt sustainability (15%), and spending on critical sectors (15%).
In 2025, Zamfara’s fiscal performance improved from 36th place in 2023 to 17th under Governor Lawal, following a rank of 26th in 2024.
