.Taraba Assembly passes 653.6bn 2026 appropriation bill into law
CHRIS AKHABUE, Edo and EMMANUEL AWARI, Jalingo
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Tuesday, presented a ₦939.85 billion 2026 Appropriation Bill, christened Budget of Hope and Growth, to the Edo State House of Assembly, outlining an ambitious fiscal roadmap aimed at consolidating gains of his first year in office and restoring public confidence in governance.
Presenting the budget, Governor Okpebholo said the 2026 fiscal plan was designed to build on the foundation laid in 2025 while expanding the reach of government programmes to directly impact the lives of Edo people across all sectors of the economy.
According to the governor, the budget prioritises key areas critical to sustainable development, including security, infrastructure, agriculture, education, job creation and healthcare, noting that the focus of his administration remains on delivering “development the people can see and feel.”
A breakdown of the proposal shows a total expenditure of ₦939.85 billion, with capital expenditure standing at ₦637 billion, representing 68 per cent of the budget, while recurrent expenditure is pegged at ₦302 billion, accounting for 32 per cent.
Governor Okpebholo explained that the heavy tilt towards capital spending underscores his administration’s resolve to accelerate development through investments in roads, schools, hospitals, water supply, housing and other economically impactful projects across the state.
He disclosed that funding for the 2026 budget would be sourced from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) projected at ₦160 billion, Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) inflows estimated at ₦480 billion, capital receipts and grants of ₦153 billion, as well as ₦146 billion expected from Public-Private Partnerships and other revenue windows.
He assured Edo residents that the government would not impose unnecessary financial burdens on citizens, stressing that efforts would instead be intensified to strengthen revenue systems, block leakages and improve public finance management.
In the sectoral allocation, the economic sector received the largest share with ₦614.2 billion earmarked for agriculture, roads, transport, urban development and energy, with priority given to 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, including plans for extensive school renovations, recruitment and training of teachers, expansion of healthcare facilities and investments in youth skills, sports and entrepreneurship programmes.
For governance and service delivery, the administration sector was allocated ₦157.7 billion to drive civil service reforms, training and deployment of digital tools, improved revenue collection systems, support for ministries, departments and agencies, and the rollout of e-governance platforms.
The justice sector received ₦19 billion to strengthen courts, enhance justice delivery, and support legal reforms and access-to-justice programmes, while regional development and local government support will focus on grassroots empowerment, community roads, 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 around five pillars of Security, Health, Infrastructure, Natural Resources/Agriculture and Education, with the vision of creating a prosperous, united Edo State where every citizen feels the impact of governance.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for national reforms that have boosted revenue flows to states, commended the Speaker and members of the House for their cooperation, and appreciated traditional rulers, faith leaders, political appointees and civil servants for their support, as he formally laid the 2026 Appropriation Bill before the Assembly for consideration and approval.
.Taraba Assembly passes 653.6bn 2026 appropriation bill into law
Similarly, The Taraba State House of Assembly on Monday approved the 2026 Appropriation Bill, marking a critical step in the state’s fiscal planning for the upcoming year.
Presenting the report, House Committee Chairman on Finance, Appropriation, Digital Economy and Innovation and Member representing Gembu State Constituency, Hon. Abdul – Azeez Suleiman Titong, said that the committee recommended the reduction of N1,000,000,000.00 from Taraba State Polytechnic Suntai.
This is out of the N930,000,000.00 that was allocated to Bureau for Solid Minerals and Ministry of Commerce, Trade & Industry to the tune of N70,000,000.00 as new revenue source for the earnings from sales of Taraba Sacks.
“The increase in the Budget size of N650,631,700,000.00 to N653,531,700,000.00 is from the Commercial borrowing of N3,000,000,000.00.
“The increase in the 2026 Budget size from N650,631,700,000.00 to N653,531,700,000.00 was necessitated by the need to include, Procurement of Teachers and Students Textbooks (Primary and Secondary), in the Ministry of Nursery & Basic Education to the tune of N1,000,000,000.00.
Provision for the takeoff of Ministry of Secondary and Vocational Skills Education to the tune of N1,000,000,000.00 and the Construction of Taraba State Bio – Entrepreneurship innovations and Solution Agency, flagship laboratory complex in Nakambo, Wukari to the tune of N1,000,000,000.00 – he said.
He said that the total sum of N16,925,176,595.64 was added in the Capital Expenditure/Projects to include, N6,275,176,595.64 for Compensation and acquisition of surrounding properties around Government House, Jalingo, the sum of N6,000,000,000.00 for the provision of the takeoff of the Taraba State University for Tropical Agriculture, Technology, Science & Climate Actions, Gembu.
“The Sum of N2,000,000,000.00 is for the Construction of new brand High Court of Justice office complex and Judicial Service Commission office, N950,000,000.00 for Foreign Scholarship Program under the State Scholarship Board.
Also N500,000,000.00 for the rehabilitation of Audit House Office Complex under the Taraba State Audit Service Commission while N750,000,000.00 is for the newly created Taraba State Sports Development Commission.
According to him, there was an increase of N1,000,000,000.00 to High Court of Justice Recurrent Expenditure and allocation of N1,000,000,000.00 to Taraba State University of Tropical Agriculture, Science, Technology, Climate Actions Gembu.
“There was also an increase of N200,000,000.00 to Taraba State Sports Development Commission – he added.
He appreciated the Speaker, members of the committee and his colleagues for their support and cooperation during their assignment.
In his remarks, the Speaker, Taraba State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. John Kizito Bonzena during the Plenary, appreciated his colleagues for the cooperation and support.
“Governor Kefas has good intention for the people of the state, we should pray and support him.
You are wonderful for a good job.
He urge Ministries Departments Agencies MDA’S to play their roles for the development of the state.
He hailed the timely passage as a victory for Taraba’s development, urging all to ensure full implementation of the budget.
The Bill, presented by Governor Agbu Kefas on November 19th,2025, outlines a budget of six hundred and fifty billion,six hundred and thirty-one million,seven hundred thousand naira (₦650,631,700.000) with a focus on infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
The bill was passed by the House after undergoing rigorous scrutiny by the House Committee on Appropriation, with public hearings.
The bill will be forwarded to the Governor for assent this week, with implementation set to begin January, 2026.
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