Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has formally presented a massive ₦939.85 billion Appropriation Bill for the 2026 fiscal year to the state's House of Assembly. The budget, christened the 'Budget of Hope and Growth,' was tabled before lawmakers on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.
Strategic Focus on Tangible Development
Governor Okpebholo stated that the 2026 fiscal plan is designed to build upon the foundation established in 2025. He emphasized that the goal is to expand government programmes to directly impact the lives of Edo people across all economic sectors. The governor reiterated his administration's commitment to delivering "development the people can see and feel."
The budget prioritizes key areas of sustainable development, which include:
- Security
- Infrastructure
- Agriculture
- Education
- Job creation
- Healthcare
A Capital-Heavy Financial Blueprint
A detailed breakdown of the ₦939.85 billion proposal reveals a strong tilt towards capital projects. Capital expenditure is set at ₦637 billion, accounting for a significant 68% of the total budget. Recurrent expenditure is pegged at ₦302 billion, representing 32%.
Governor Okpebholo explained that this emphasis on capital spending underscores his government's determination to fast-track development. The funds are earmarked for strategic investments in roads, schools, hospitals, water supply, housing, and other high-impact projects statewide.
Funding Sources and Revenue Assurance
The governor outlined the expected revenue streams to fund the ambitious budget. These include:
- Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) estimated at ₦160 billion.
- Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations projected at ₦480 billion.
- Capital receipts and grants totaling ₦153 billion.
- ₦146 billion expected from Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
- Other viable revenue windows available to the state.
Okpebholo assured residents that the government would not impose unnecessary financial burdens on citizens. Instead, the administration plans to intensify efforts to strengthen revenue systems, block leakages, and improve public finance management.
Sectoral Allocations and Key Projects
The economic sector received the lion's share of ₦614.2 billion. This allocation will fund agriculture, roads, transport, urban development, and energy. Priority projects include rural and urban road construction, completion of two flyovers, drainage works, urban renewal, and expansion of farm estates and irrigation facilities.
The social sector was allocated ₦148.9 billion for education, healthcare, youth development, women affairs, and social welfare. Planned interventions encompass extensive school renovations, recruitment and training of teachers, expansion of primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare facilities, and investments in youth skills, sports, and entrepreneurship programmes.
For governance, the administration sector received ₦157.7 billion to drive civil service reforms, staff training, deployment of digital tools, improved revenue collection, and the full rollout of e-governance platforms. The justice sector got ₦19 billion to strengthen courts and improve justice delivery.
Anchored on the SHINE Agenda
Governor Okpebholo stated that the 2026 Budget of Hope and Growth is firmly anchored on his administration's SHINE Agenda. This framework is built on five core pillars: Security, Health, Infrastructure, Natural Resources/Agriculture, and Education. The overarching vision is to create a prosperous and united Edo State where every citizen feels the positive impact of governance.
