Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has signed into law, the state’s 2026 Appropriation Bill of N1.729 trillion, tagged “Budget of Accelerating the MORE Agenda,” alongside three other key bills passed by the Delta State House of Assembly.
The signing, which took place on Tuesday, formally ushers in the legal framework for accelerated development, improved security and enhanced social welfare across the state in the 2026 fiscal year.
The additional bills assented to by the Governor are the Delta State Social Investment Programme Law, the Delta State Colleges of Education Law, 2025, and the Delta State Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Cultism (Amendment) Law, 2025.
Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Oborevwori described the 2026 budget as a strategic roadmap rather than a mere financial document, stressing that it is designed to deliver concrete results within the next twelve months. He assured that his administration would commence implementation immediately in January to fast-track development across critical sectors.
The N1,729,881,208,779 budget represents an increase of more than 70 per cent over the 2025 budget. According to the Governor, 70 per cent of the estimate is earmarked for capital expenditure, while 30 per cent is allocated to recurrent spending, reflecting the administration’s emphasis on infrastructure development and sustainable economic growth.
Oborevwori noted that the state’s focus on infrastructure, security, fiscal discipline and revenue expansion in 2025 had yielded positive results, including improved internally generated revenue without placing additional tax burdens on residents. He said the progress underscored the effectiveness of the administration’s reforms and its resolve to further strengthen the state’s economy.
The Governor explained that the three accompanying laws were aimed at deepening social inclusion, strengthening the education sector and enhancing public safety. He said the Social Investment Programme Law establishes a legal framework to ensure equitable access to government support for vulnerable and underserved groups at the grassroots level.
He added that the Colleges of Education Law, 2025, harmonises the operations of state-owned colleges of education, enabling them to award both Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) qualifications and education degrees, while also expanding their capacity to train more teachers.
On security, Oborevwori said the Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Cultism (Amendment) Law strengthens the state’s legal response to terrorism, cultism and related crimes, bringing it in line with evolving security challenges.
The Governor commended the Speaker and members of the Delta State House of Assembly, as well as the Clerk and staff of the House, for the timely passage of the budget and bills. He described the process as a testament to the strong working relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government.
He also expressed appreciation to stakeholders, cabinet members, civil servants and the people of Delta State for their support, and extended Christmas and New Year greetings to residents.
Earlier, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, said the four bills were passed after extensive consultations, rigorous debate and detailed scrutiny in line with the Assembly’s constitutional responsibilities.
Guwor said the Social Investment Programme Law institutionalises social intervention initiatives to protect vulnerable citizens and promote inclusive growth and social justice. He noted that the Colleges of Education Law, 2025, provides a uniform framework to improve the quality and efficiency of teacher education across state-owned institutions.
He also said the amended Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Cultism Law addresses emerging security threats and corrects gaps in the principal legislation, including the absence of a clear definition of cultism.
On the 2026 Appropriation Law, the Speaker said lawmakers examined the budget sector by sector in line with the MORE Agenda before approving the N1.729 trillion estimate.
According to him, the Governor’s assent to the bills reflects the cordial and productive relationship between the executive and legislature and reinforces their shared commitment to good governance, peace and socio-economic development in Delta State.
