News Investigators/ Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Friday presented a budget estimate of N415.57 billion for the 2026 fiscal year, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
According to the governor, the budget is expected to focus on consolidating the various achievements, recorded by his administration in the last three years.
Laying the budget proposal before members of Ekiti State House of Assembly during a plenary, held at the Old Assembly Complex, Ado-Ekiti, Oyebanji said the 2026 Budget was tailored towards the completion of all ongoing infrastructural development projects.
The 2026 budget estimate, christened “Budget of Impactful Governance”, is made up of a Recurrent Expenditure of N221.87 billion, representing 53 per cent, and a Capital Expenditure of N193.70 billion, which translates to 46 per cent.
The Ekiti budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year is about 11 per cent higher than the approved 2025 budget, which stood at N375.79 billion, and which had N252.15 billion as its Recurrent Expenditure, and N104.51 billion as Capital Expenditure.
The 2026 Budget, according to the governor, would also focus on investing in agriculture and related value chain, and would address wealth creation, as well as welfare of the people, to further ensure the fulfillment of the Shared Prosperity agenda of his administration.
He said that the planned substantial investment on agriculture and wealth creation were also aimed at generating employment, stabilising food prices, assuring food security, and boosting the contribution of agriculture to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Mr Oyebanji explained that the revenue sources expected to fund the budget size of N415.57 billion, include Federal Allocation, Value Added Tax (VAT), Independent Revenue (from MDAs and Tertiary Institutions), International Donor Agencies and other sundry income sources.
He stated that the 2026 Budget estimate was a product of statewide consultations with the representatives of various towns and communities, various interest groups, revered traditional rulers and Civil Society Organisations, at town hall meetings, held across the three senatorial districts.
According to him, the town hall meetings, enabled the people to articulate the pressing needs of their towns, communities and groups, for consideration in the budget.
He further explained that the 2026 Budget, stemmed from the State Development Plan, 2021-2050, Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), 2026–2028, and the Six Pillars of his administration, and was prepared, in compliance with the National Chart of Accounts (NCoA) Template, as unanimously agreed by the sub-nationals, through the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).
Mr Oyebanji pledged the government’s commitment to ensure fiscal responsibility in implementation of the proposed 2026 Budget, which he described as an embodiment of the policy thrust of his administration and direction of the state government in the coming year.
The governor noted that probity, transparency and accountability had been the hallmark of governance in Ekiti, under his watch, which he described as necessary in upholding good governance and improving the standard of living of the people.
He said: “Distinguished honourable members, without any fear of contradiction, I make bold to say that our Administration has demonstrated a high level of fiscal discipline and prudence in the utilization of our commonwealth to implement laudable developmental projects.
“These projects are not only impactful, they will set our State on the path of realizing the Shared Prosperity vision. I, therefore, affirm my commitment to continued fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability.
“To further promote good governance , we have designed a framework for effective policy formulation and implementation that would further boost the economy of our dear State. We have also institutionalized several fiscal reforms at the State and the Local Government levels for quality service delivery. These reforms are already paying off.”
Mr Oyebanji also expressed his profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu “for his very strong support to the government and the good people of Ekiti”, noting that this support had translated to several interventions, which had assisted to alleviate poverty in the state, and in the delivery of his campaign promises to Ekiti people.
Reviewing the performance of the 2025 budget, Oyebanji expressed satisfaction on the improvement in the budget performance.
He said that his government had ensured good implementation of the 2025 Budget with several projects and programmes, being executed in 2025, which include construction and rehabilitation of several roads, renovation of eight general hospitals, among others.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, assured that the lawmakers would deliberate on the budget with diligence, patriotism, and impartiality, to ensure that the 2026 Appropriation Bill, reflects the aspirations of the generality of Ekiti people.
The Speaker urged his colleagues to act as stewards, and work on the budget proposal with integrity, discipline and a shared sense of purpose.
“With united effort, we can sustain the momentum of reforms, catalyse inclusive growth, and build an Ekiti State where opportunity is within reach for all”, he said
He also urged heads of MDAs to be prepared to give detailed explanation on their respective aspects of the budget when invited.
The Speaker also reaffirmed the pledge of the State legislature “that every naira will be accounted for, and directed to priority sectors that yield maximum public benefit.”
NAN reports that the budget presentation was attended by the Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye; Secretary to the State Government, Prof Habibat Adubiaro and the Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi.
The list also include: the Chief of Staff, Mr Oyeniyi Adebayo; members of the State Executive Council, heads of government agencies, tertiary institutions, traditional rulers, heads of security agencies, and political leaders.
NAN
