By Clara Egbogota
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has signed the state’s 2026 Appropriation Bill of N1.729 trillion into law.
Oborevwori on Tuesday also assented to three other key bills passed by the Delta State House of Assembly, noting that the budget is tagged “Budget of Accelerating the MORE Agenda.”
According to him, the assent sets the stage for accelerated development, enhanced security and strengthened social welfare across the state.
“The other three bills assented to are the Delta State Social Investment Programme Law, the Delta State Colleges of Education Law, 2025, and the Delta State Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Cultism (Amendment) Law, 2025,” he said.
The governor, during the signing ceremony, described the 2026 budget as “not just a budget of figures, but a budget of vision, action and expected deliverables for the next twelve months.”
He assured that the state would hit the ground running in 2026 to accelerate development across key sectors.
“The N1,729,881,208,779 budget represents an increase of over 70 per cent compared to the 2025 budget,” he said.
Oborevwori said the estimate, though ambitious, was achievable, with 70 per cent allocated to capital expenditure and 30 per cent to recurrent spending.
He added that the budget underscores his administration’s commitment to infrastructure-led growth and sustainable development.
“In 2025, the state intensified investments in infrastructure, security, fiscal discipline and revenue growth, leading to improved internally generated revenue without imposing additional burdens on citizens.
“The gains reflect the success of the administration’s reforms and its determination to continue strengthening the state’s economy,” he said.
The governor explained that the three accompanying laws were designed to further reinforce social welfare, education and security in Delta State.
He said the Social Investment Programme Law provides a legal framework for equitable, grassroots-focused access to resources and services, particularly for vulnerable and underserved populations, without discrimination.
He added that the Colleges of Education Law, 2025, standardises the operations of state-owned colleges, allowing them to award Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) qualifications and education degrees concurrently, while expanding their capacity to train more qualified teachers.
“The Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Cultism (Amendment) Law strengthens the legal framework to combat terrorism, cultism and related crimes, aligning state laws with contemporary security realities,” Oborevwori said.
He commended the Speaker, leadership and members of the Delta State House of Assembly, as well as the clerk and staff of the House, for the timely passage of the budget and other bills, highlighting the strong synergy between the executive and the legislature.
The governor also thanked stakeholders, cabinet members, civil servants and citizens for their contributions, while wishing all Deltans a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Earlier, the Speaker of the Delta House of Assembly, Mr Emomotimi Guwor, said the passage of the four bills followed rigorous legislative engagement, wide consultations and thorough scrutiny in line with the Assembly’s constitutional mandate.
Guwor explained that the Social Investment Programme Law institutionalises social intervention initiatives to protect vulnerable citizens and promote inclusive growth and social justice.
He said the Colleges of Education Law, 2025, establishes a uniform framework to enhance the quality and efficiency of teacher education and reduce disparities among state-owned colleges.
According to him, the Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Cultism (Amendment) Law addresses emerging security challenges and corrects gaps in the principal legislation, including the omission of a clear definition of cultism.
On the Appropriation Law, 2026, the Speaker said the House scrutinised the budget sector by sector in line with the MORE Agenda before passing the N1.729 trillion estimate.
“The assent to the bills further underscores the cordial and productive relationship between the legislature and the executive, driven by a shared vision for a peaceful, secure and prosperous Delta State,” he said.
He added that the laws would significantly advance good governance and socio-economic development in the state. (NAN)