Oborevwori Backs Infrastructure-Led Growth With New Budget

By PAULINA NZERUBE

Delta Approves ₦1.729 Trillion Spending Plan for 2026

GOVERNOR Sheriff Oborevwori has formally approved Delta State’s ₦1.729 trillion 2026 budget following the signing of the Appropriation Bill into law on Tuesday. The spending plan, branded the “Budget of Accelerating the MORE Agenda,” outlines the government’s development priorities for the next year.

Alongside the budget, the governor signed three other bills into law, covering social investment, education reform, and security enhancement.

Budget Expansion and Allocation

The approved estimate represents a significant increase of more than 70 per cent over the 2025 budget. According to the governor, 70 per cent of the budget is devoted to capital projects, while 30 per cent is allocated to recurrent expenditure, reinforcing the administration’s focus on infrastructure, economic growth and sustainability.

Oborevwori said the budget’s size was supported by stronger revenue performance in 2025, driven by fiscal discipline and improved Internally Generated Revenue without additional financial burden on residents.

Key Supporting Laws

The Social Investment Programme Law establishes a legal structure for grassroots-focused welfare programmes aimed at vulnerable populations. The Colleges of Education Law, 2025, allows state-owned colleges to award both NCEs and degree certificates, broadening access to teacher education.

The Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Cultism (Amendment) Law, 2025, enhances the state’s security framework to combat terrorism, cultism and related crimes.

Assembly’s Role

Speaker Emomotimi Guwor noted that the passage of the four bills followed rigorous legislative review. The House had earlier adjusted the proposed budget upward after committee review, increasing recurrent spending to ₦500 billion and capital expenditure to ₦1.229 trillion.