Trending 
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Tuesday, presented a ₦939.85 billion 2026 Appropriation Bill, tagged the Budget of Hope and Growth, to the Edo State House of Assembly.
The budget was laid before the House during a plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Rt Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, according to a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebojele Akhere Patrick.
While presenting the estimates, Okpebholo commended the Speaker and lawmakers for their cooperation, noting that their support ensured the effective implementation of the 2025 budget, with visible benefits for residents of the state.
He said the 2025 fiscal year recorded strong performance in both capital and recurrent expenditure, alongside a significant rise in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) following the blocking of leakages and improved revenue collection mechanisms. These achievements, he explained, shaped the priorities of the 2026 budget.
On security, the governor said his administration was committed to making Edo State unsafe for criminals.
He recalled that cult-related killings, kidnapping, robbery and cybercrime were widespread before he assumed office, with over 300 cult killings recorded in 2024 alone.
To curb the trend, he said the government enacted a tougher anti-cultism law, procured 80 Hilux patrol vehicles and 400 motorcycles for security agencies, and recruited and trained 2,500 personnel into the Edo State Security Corps. These measures, he added, have significantly reduced insecurity across the state.
In the health sector, Okpebholo said his government is rebuilding a previously collapsed system through the construction of new primary healthcare centres, provision of diagnostic equipment and the ongoing construction of a 150-bed specialist hospital in Edo Central.
On infrastructure, the governor disclosed that his administration has awarded 28 road projects covering 255 kilometres, including the construction of two flyovers at Ramat Park and Sapele Road by Adesuwa Junction in Benin City—the first flyovers in the state’s history.
He hinted that several community roads are also under construction to improve connectivity.
He said agriculture received a major boost, with the sector’s budget rising from ₦6.9 billion to ₦57 billion, following encouragement from President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, more than 400 hectares of farmland have been cultivated, with harvesting already underway across various farm clusters to address food insecurity.
In education, Okpebholo announced the recruitment of 5,000 permanent teachers and the upgrade of 63 schools to modern standards, with more schools currently undergoing improvement.
He also revealed sharp increases in monthly subventions to tertiary institutions, raising Ambrose Alli University’s allocation from ₦41 million to ₦500 million and Edo State University, Iyamoh, from ₦25 million to ₦250 million.
On the economy and job creation, the governor said the administration inherited significant local and foreign debts but has begun reducing the debt burden.
He disclosed that over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs have been created, alongside the launch of a ₦1 billion interest-free loan scheme for market women and traders.
Addressing governance reforms, Okpebholo said public confidence has been restored through the swearing-in of three previously sidelined judges, the re-establishment of customary courts and the strengthening of traditional institutions.
He explained that the ₦939.85 billion budget allocates ₦637 billion (68 per cent) to capital expenditure and ₦302 billion (32 per cent) to recurrent spending, underscoring the administration’s focus on people-oriented development.
The budget is expected to be funded through projected IGR of ₦160 billion, FAAC allocations of ₦480 billion, capital receipts and grants of ₦153 billion, public-private partnerships valued at ₦146 billion, and other revenue sources.
Sectoral allocations show that the economic sector received ₦614.2 billion, the social sector ₦148.9 billion, the administration sector ₦157.7 billion and the justice sector ₦19 billion, with additional provisions for regional development and local government support.
Okpebholo said the budget is anchored on his administration’s SHINE Agenda—Security, Health, Infrastructure, Natural Resources/Agriculture and Education—and aims to build a prosperous and united Edo State.
The Deputy Governor, Rt, attended the session. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, former deputy governors, former SSGs, members of the State Executive Council, traditional rulers, civil society groups and the media.
The governor thanked President Tinubu for reforms that have improved revenue flows to states and formally submitted the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the House for consideration and approval.
