Benin City: Governor 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, marking a bold shift toward capital investment.
Nearly two-thirds of the budget—₦637 billion—is devoted to infrastructure, agriculture, education, healthcare, and job creation, signalling an aggressive push for visible development across the state.
Projects include new roads, flyovers, drainage works, urban renewal, expanded farm estates, and irrigation facilities.
Anchored in his SHINE Agenda (Security, Health, Infrastructure, Natural Resources, and Education), Okpebholo said the plan reflects his administration’s commitment to delivering “development that the people can see and feel.”
The economic sector received the largest allocation of ₦614.2 billion for agriculture, roads, transport, urban development, and energy projects.
The social sector was allotted ₦148.9 billion for education, healthcare, youth development, women’s affairs, and social welfare programmes, including school renovations, teacher recruitment, healthcare expansion, and youth empowerment initiatives.
Governance reforms will cost ₦157.7 billion, covering civil service restructuring, digital tools, improved revenue systems, and the rollout of e-governance.
The justice sector was allocated ₦19 billion to strengthen courts and enhance access to justice, while regional development funds will support community roads, rural electrification, water projects, grassroots empowerment, and security outposts.
Funding is projected at ₦160 billion from internally generated revenue, ₦480 billion from FAAC inflows, ₦153 billion from capital receipts and grants, and ₦146 billion from public-private partnerships.
Okpebholo assured residents that no unnecessary burdens would be imposed, pledging to strengthen revenue systems and block leakages.
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for reforms that boosted state revenues and commended the Assembly for its cooperation. The governor formally laid the 2026 Appropriation Bill before the House for consideration and approval.