Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious ₦939.85 billion 2026 Appropriation Bill before the Edo State House of Assembly, pledging a budget that prioritises tangible development, economic expansion and renewed public confidence in governance.
Christened the Budget of Hope and Growth, the proposal outlines a bold fiscal roadmap aimed at consolidating the gains of the governor’s first year in office while extending the reach of government programmes to directly impact residents across the State.
Presenting the budget, Okpebholo said the 2026 fiscal plan builds on the foundation laid in 2025, with a strong emphasis on projects and policies that deliver what he described as “development the people can see and feel.”
A breakdown of the proposal shows total expenditure pegged at ₦939.85 billion, with capital expenditure accounting for ₦637 billion, representing 68 per cent of the budget, while recurrent expenditure stands at ₦302 billion, or 32 per cent.
The governor said the heavy tilt towards capital spending reflects his administration’s determination to fast-track development through strategic investments in roads, schools, hospitals, housing, water supply and other projects with direct economic and social impact.
He disclosed that funding for the budget would be drawn from multiple sources, including Internally Generated Revenue projected at ₦160 billion, Federation Account Allocation Committee inflows estimated at ₦480 billion, capital receipts and grants of ₦153 billion, as well as ₦146 billion expected from Public-Private Partnerships and other revenue windows.
Okpebholo assured Edo residents that the government would not impose unnecessary financial burdens on citizens, stressing that the focus would remain on strengthening revenue systems, blocking leakages and improving public finance management.
Sectoral allocations show that the economic sector received the largest share, with ₦614.2 billion earmarked for agriculture, roads, transport, urban development and energy. Priority projects include rural and urban road construction, completion of two flyovers, drainage works, urban renewal initiatives, and the expansion of farm estates and irrigation facilities.
The social sector was allocated ₦148.9 billion to support education, healthcare, youth development, women affairs and social welfare. Planned interventions include extensive school renovations, recruitment and training of teachers, expansion of healthcare facilities, and investments in youth skills acquisition, sports and entrepreneurship programmes.
For governance and service delivery, ₦157.7 billion was set aside for the administration sector to drive civil service reforms, capacity building, deployment of digital tools, improved revenue collection systems, support for ministries, departments and agencies, and the rollout of e-governance platforms.
The justice sector received an allocation of ₦19 billion to strengthen courts, enhance justice delivery and support legal reforms and access-to-justice programmes. Regional development and local government support will focus on grassroots empowerment through community roads, rural electrification, water and sanitation projects, and the establishment of security outposts in border communities.
The governor said the 2026 budget is anchored on his SHINE Agenda, built around five pillars—Security, Health, Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Agriculture, and Education—aimed at building a prosperous, united Edo State where citizens feel the real impact of governance.
Okpebholo expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for national reforms that have improved revenue flows to states, commended the Speaker and members of the Edo State House of Assembly for their cooperation, and thanked traditional rulers, faith leaders, political appointees and civil servants for their support.
He thereafter formally laid the 2026 Appropriation Bill before the House for consideration and approval.
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