Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially enacted the state's record-breaking budget for the 2026 fiscal year. The governor gave his assent to the N1.729 trillion Appropriation Bill on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, setting a new benchmark for public spending in the oil-rich state.
A Budget of Vision and Accelerated Growth
Christened the "Budget of Accelerating the MORE Agenda," the financial plan represents a monumental leap in the state's fiscal ambition. It marks an increase of more than 70 per cent over the budget approved for the 2025 fiscal period. Governor Oborevwori defended the ambitious scale, stating that the budget is "not just a budget of figures, but a budget of vision, action and expected deliverables."
He assured Deltans that his administration would "hit the ground running" from the start of the new year to ensure effective implementation. The governor linked the expanded budget size to improved fiscal discipline and a significant boost in the state's Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) throughout 2025. He emphasised that these revenue gains were achieved without imposing new taxes or additional financial burdens on citizens.
Capital Projects Take Centre Stage
The structure of the massive budget underscores a clear developmental priority. A dominant 70 per cent of the total N1.729 trillion has been allocated for capital expenditure. This focus on infrastructure and projects is designed to drive economic growth. The remaining 30 per cent is earmarked for recurrent spending, which covers salaries, overheads, and other operational costs.
This capital-heavy allocation, according to the government, is a strategic move to cement its commitment to infrastructure-led growth across Delta State. It signals an intent to accelerate the delivery of tangible projects under the MORE Agenda umbrella.
Broad Policy Push: New Laws on Welfare, Education, and Security
Beyond the budget signing, Governor Oborevwori used the occasion to assent to three other critical pieces of legislation, demonstrating a multi-sectoral policy drive.
The newly signed laws are:
- The Delta State Social Investment Programme Law: This provides a legal framework to ensure equitable access to social welfare interventions for the state's vulnerable and underserved populations.
- The Delta State Colleges of Education Law, 2025: This legislation standardises operations for state-owned colleges of education. Crucially, it empowers these institutions to award both National Certificates in Education (NCE) and full education degrees, a move aimed at boosting the supply of qualified teachers.
- The Delta State Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Cultism (Amendment) Law, 2025: This amendment updates existing security laws to better confront current threats. It addresses gaps in the old legislation, including providing a clearer definition of cultism, as cult-related violence and organised crime remain persistent challenges in some parts of the state.
The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, confirmed that all bills underwent "rigorous legislative engagement" and detailed scrutiny. He noted that the security law amendment specifically tackles previously identified weaknesses to strengthen the state's security architecture.
With the budget now law, all eyes are on the Delta State government to translate this historic financial plan into visible development and improved living standards for its people in the coming year.
