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From Enweliku Kent, Asaba
The Delta State Government has proposed a budget of N1.2 trillion for the 2027 fiscal year.
The Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Sonny Ekedayen, disclosed this on Friday in Asaba during the Delta State Citizens’ Budget and Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum for the 2027 budget.
Ekedayen said the 2027 proposal is slightly smaller than the N1.72 trillion budget of 2026, explaining that the state intends to live within its means and avoid bloated estimates.
“We are looking at a slightly smaller budget. We are not looking at doing the N1.72 trillion budget this time around. We are looking at somewhere between N1.2 and N1.3 trillion, depending on what our investments will be between now and when it comes out from the House of Assembly,” Ekedayen said.
He noted that about N500 billion of the 2026 budget was funded from savings, adding that the administration does not intend to continue that pattern, especially as 2027 is a transition year leading to elections.
“Why we took that decision is because we want to live within our means. About N500 billion of this year’s budget was funded from savings. We are not in that kind of mood, more so when this is a transition year. We want to do something that is compact, that we know we can manage and run,” he explained.
The Commissioner disclosed that the 2027 budget will be skewed 65% in favour of capital expenditure and 35% for recurrent expenditure, with focus on completion of ongoing projects and commencement of high-impact projects that will stimulate interconnectivity and economic activities across communities.
He said the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori will not leave any project uncompleted, recalling that on assumption of office, the governor completed several abandoned projects.
“We will focus on completing ongoing projects as much as possible. We will commence high-impact projects that will catalyze and stimulate economic activities in our communities. When this government came in, even projects that had been abandoned long ago, he took them on and completed them. For such a person, you will know he will not leave anything uncompleted,” Ekedayen stated.
On macro-economic assumptions, Ekedayen said the budget is predicated on a GDP growth rate of 4.7 percent, crude oil production of 1.7 million barrels per day, an exchange rate of N1,350 to a dollar, and an average inflation rate of 14 percent.
He added that the state is projecting an Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of between N300 billion and N350 billion, and will not resort to borrowing.
“We are not going to borrow. We will run this term out without borrowing because we don’t have reason to borrow. The economy is managed very well and we have enough to execute the programmes earmarked,” he said.
Ekedayen disclosed that as at 30th September, 2026, the performance of the 2026 budget stood at 69 percent, broken down into 90 percent recurrent and 60 percent capital, expressing optimism that performance will improve before year-end with dry season construction activities.
He said the essence of the stakeholders’ forum is to engage the community, render account on the 2026 budget performance and get inputs for inclusion into the 2027 budget.
Ekedayen also clarified that though macro-economic indicators have stabilized, job creation will only come when factories and companies return, adding that Delta was recently selected as the second state after Lagos for an IT hub by the Federal Government, which will boost youth employment.
He said the budget will be 65% capital and 35% recurrent, focused on completing ongoing projects and will be funded without borrowing. 2026 budget performance as at September is 69%.
Earlier, a prominent stakeholder, the Asagba of Asaba Prof Epiphany Azinge, who spoke at the forum, commended the government for its commitment to infrastructure, education and health.
“There is every need for citizens’ participation and engagement in preparation of budgets and to that extent we are all here to listen and also to make inputs,” he said.
“I have been able to glance through the folder and I’ve seen the budgetary allocations for 2026 and I want to say without equivocation that it clearly underscores the thinking of the government of Delta State. I’ve noted that a lot is committed to roads and infrastructural development and next in the hierarchy is education which is commendable.
“I must say government of Delta State is doing very well as far as health is concerned. Even with the N55 billion that is listed there, I can say that health care in Delta State is among the best in the country at the moment,” he stated.
He however expressed concern over the low placement of agriculture in the budget, saying Delta should be one of the food baskets of the nation.
He also called on government to pay greater attention to youth unemployment, noting that about 70 percent of Asaba community is populated by youths.
“Unemployment is a challenge and how the budget can address it is very critical. One thing is to budget, another thing is the performance of the budget. But I want to believe that the performance rate in Delta State is very high and that should be applauded,” he added.
He assured the Commissioner that the Asaba community will submit its own budget needs between now and Monday to enable government capture community priorities.
Stakeholders at the forum, which includes President General, Civil Society group, traditional rulers commended the focus on roads, education and health but urged more attention to agriculture and youth employment.
