Governors Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa) yesterday presented the 2026 Appropriation Bills to the Houses of Assembly for scrutiny and approval.
They presented N1.664 trillion, and N517.5 billion proposed budgets to the Houses of Assembly for the incoming year.
Giving a breakdown of the proposed budget, Oborevwori said N499 billion, representing 30 per cent, is for recurrent expenditure, while N1.165 trillion, representing 70 per cent of total budget, is for capital expenditure.
The governor said the proposed budget size indicated an increase of N685 billion or 70 per cent over that of the outgoing year.
He added that the proposed budget would be mainly funded from Statutory Allocation, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Mineral Derivation, Value Added Tax (VAT), Other Capital Receipts and Savings and Oil Revenue Recoveries.
Oborevwori said N720 billion, or 43.28 per cent of total projected revenue, is expected from statutory allocation which he said was boosted by post-subsidy FAAC inflows and improved oil production stability in the Niger Delta.
The governor said the state’s IGR is projected at N250 billion, representing an 86.5 per cent increase over that of 2025.
He stated that the projected increase in the state’s IGR was driven by ongoing reforms to plug leakages and widen the tax net.
According to him, VAT receipts are expected to rise sharply to N120 billion, buoyed by improved federal administration of the tax.
Oborevwori said: ‘Capital receipts, however, have been deliberately cut down to N25 billion, a 73 per cent reduction, as the government pushes towards a zero-borrowing fiscal strategy.
‘Savings and oil revenue recoveries are projected to contribute N489 billion. This is a testament to prudent and disciplined financial management.’
According to him, the proposed recurrent expenditure estimates for 2026 of N499 billion comprise personnel costs of N185 billion, representing 37 per cent of the proposed recurrent budget, while N204 billion, representing approximately 41 per cent, is earmarked for overheads.
Oborevwori explained that the balance of 22 per cent or N110 billion was accounted for by social contributions, benefits, and grants.
The governor emphasised that the personnel cost of N185 billion anticipated the annual increments and allowances, while the overhead cost mirrors the inflationary trend in the country.
Analysing the proposed capital expenditure estimate of N1.165 trillion, Oborevwori noted that the proposal was N535 billion or 85 per cent higher than the 2025 capital budget of N630 Billion.
‘This is largely accounted for by the larger budget size of N1.664 trillion, as against the N979.2 billion of 2025,’ he said.
Highlighting the priority sectors of the budget, Oborevwori said N450 billion was budgeted for road infrastructure, N105.086 billion for education, N50.067 billion for health, N20 billion for Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency and N20 billion for Warri, Uvwie and Environs Development Agency.
According to him, N16 billion was budgeted for Power and Energy, N10 billion for Agriculture, N20 billion for Social Protection, adding that the sum of N100 billion was budgeted for local government intervention in the 25 local government areas in the state (N4 billion per local government).
Reviewing the performance of this year’s budget, named: ‘Budget of Fiscal Consolidation,’ where N979,228,818,719 was approved for funding both capital and recurrent expenditures, the governor said the performance of the budget was encouraging.
‘From January to October 2025, the actual revenue receipts from the Federation Account Allocation Committee and Internally Generated Revenue stood at N738.640 billion, representing 90.5 per cent of the proportionate budget of N816,024,015,599.
‘The recurrent expenditure for the period under review was N340,554,006,448, as against a proportionate amount of N290,639,798,863.50, representing 117 per cent performance.
‘The sum of N509,780,336,370 was expended during the period under review, as against a proportionate amount of N525,384,216,736, representing 97 per cent performance.
‘It is pertinent to appreciate this stellar performance. It is also gladdening to note that the bold and reformist policies of the Federal Government have started to yield the desired result and the country is beginning to turn the corner,’ Oborevwori added.
Speaker Emomotimi Guwor praised the Oborevwori administration for the steady strides it had recorded under the Renewed Hope for M.O.R.E.
Also, presenting a budget proposal of N517.539,050,910.77 billion for the year 2026 to the State House of Assembly for approval, Governor Sule urged the House of Assembly to examine the details and ensure expeditious approval.
Receiving the Appropriation Bill, Speaker Danladi Jatau assured the governor of effective synergy and speedy passage.
Governor Sule said: ‘Mr. Speaker, the Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriation Bill is anchored on the theme: Budget of Strategic Consolidation. In line with our development agenda, the 2026 budget seeks to consolidate ongoing infrastructure projects to enhance connectivity and economic competitiveness.
‘Expand job creation through industrialization, SME support, and agricultural productivity, Improve the quality and accessibility of basic healthcare and education services.
‘Intensify urban renewal efforts and strengthen environmental management among others,’ he said.
According to the governor, the total expenditure budget for fiscal year 2026 is structured into N212,789,330,249.07 only. This represents 41.12% recurrent expenditure.
‘And a total capital expenditure of N304,749,720,661.70 representing 58.88%,’ he said.
Sule said the ratio of the recurrent to capital spending shows another improvement in his administration’s commitment to investing in capital spending.
‘Budget allocation based on main sectors is as follows: Administrative Sector: N108.70 billion, Economic Sector: N221.84 billion
Law and Justice Sector: N16.09 billionSocial Sector: N170.92 billion.
‘Further breakdown into sub-sectors shows that: Infrastructure-N 157.80 billion representing 30.49 per cent while Education sector takes N92.91 billion representing 7.95 per cent, Science, Technology and
Digital Economy was allocated N4.92 billion, representing 0.95%, as well as Governance, Security and General Administration – N142.96 billion representing 27.62%, Finance, Investment and Trade N39.19 billion representing 7.57 per cent.
Others are: Health – N37.19 billion representing 7.19 PER CENT, Agriculture and
Water Resources – N31.85 billion representing 6.15 per cent, Environment and Community Development – N28.32 billion representing 5.42 per cent, Information and Tourism – N18.65 billion representing 3.60 per cent, Legislation – N16.59 billion representing 3.21 per cent
‘Law and Justice – N16.09 billion, representing 3.11 per cent, Youth and Sport Development N10.01 billion representing 1.93, Humanitarian and Women Empowerment- N2.50 billion representing 0.48 per cent,’ he said.
The governor said that his administration remain committed to enhancing capacity to serve the people of Nasarawa State.
Also, in Katsina State, Governor Radda received and signed into law the 2026 Appropriation Bill, named: Building Your Future III, which he presented to the House of Assembly on November 4.
The lawmakers approved the Bill within a 21-day period, returning the figures the governor presented before them unaltered.
The proposed budget contains a Recurrent Expenditure of 18 per cent, and Capital Expenditure of 81 per cent.
During the signing ceremony at the Government House in Katsina, Radda said details of the budget was not compiled till the opinions of the people from the 361 wards across the 34 councils were sought through several town hall meetings.
He said: ‘More than 70,000 people attended the town hall meetings, with the attendees itemizing those things they wanted government to do for them which was incorporated into the budget.
‘The synergy between government and the lawmakers was a commendable one, we call on them to ensure the cooperation continued unabated.
‘Government had sent several bills to the house which has been passed into law, and more Bills would be coming in the months for the lawmaker’s consideration.’