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From Tony Osauzo and Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has presented a ₦939.85 billion budget to the House of Assembly for consideration for the 2026 fiscal year.
Christened, “Budget of hope and growth,” the budget is made up of N637 billion capital expenditure, representing 68 percent of the budget and N302 billion recurrent expenditure accounting for 32 percent.
He disclosed that the budget would be funded through the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) estimated at ₦160 billion, Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations projected at ₦480 billion, capital receipts and grants of ₦153 billion and ₦146 billion from Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), as well as other viable revenue windows available to the state.
Presenting the budget, Governor Okpebholo said the 2026 fiscal plan was carefully designed to build on the foundation laid in 2025, while expanding the reach of the government programmes to directly impact the lives of Edo people across all sectors of the economy.
He explained that the budget prioritises critical areas of sustainable development, including security, infrastructure, agriculture, education, job creation and healthcare, stressing that his administration remains committed to delivering development the people can see and feel.
Governor Okpebholo stated that the strong emphasis on capital spending reflects his administration’s determination to fast-track development through strategic investments in roads, schools, hospitals, water supply, housing and other high-impact economic projects across the state.
Sectoral allocation of the budget shows that the economic sector received the largest share of ₦614.2 billion earmarked for agriculture, roads, transport, urban development and energy. Priority areas include rural and urban road construction, completion of two flyovers, drainage works, urban renewal and expansion of farm estates and irrigation facilities.
The social sector was allocated ₦148.9 billion to cater for education, healthcare, youth development, women affairs and social welfare.
Planned interventions include extensive school renovations, recruitment and training of teachers, expansion of primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities, as well as investments in youth skills, sports and entrepreneurship programmes.
The administration sector received ₦157.7 billion to drive civil service reforms, staff training, deployment of digital tools, improved revenue collection systems, support for ministries, departments and agencies and the full rollout of e-governance platforms.
Similarly, the justice sector was allocated ₦19 billion to strengthen the courts, improve justice delivery and support legal reforms and access-to-justice programmes, while regional development and local government support will focus on grassroots empowerment, community road construction, rural electrification, water and sanitation projects and security outposts in border communities.
Governor Okpebholo said the 2026 budget of hope and growth is anchored on his SHINE Agenda, built on five pillars, comprising security, health, infrastructure, natural resources/agriculture and education, with the overarching vision of creating a prosperous and united Edo State where every citizen feels the impact of governance.
The governor assured Edo residents that the government would not impose unnecessary financial burdens on citizens, noting that the administration would instead, intensify efforts to strengthen revenue systems, block leakages and improve public finance management
Besides, Okpebholo expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for national reforms that have boosted revenue flows to states, commended the Speaker and members of the Edo State House of Assembly for their cooperation and thanked traditional rulers, faith leaders, political appointees and civil servants for their support.
