Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Tuesday signed into law the Delta State 2026 Appropriation Bill of ₦1.729 trillion, christened the “Budget of Accelerating the MORE Agenda,” alongside three other critical bills passed by the Delta State House of Assembly.
The assent marks a significant step toward accelerated development, improved security and strengthened social welfare across the state.
The additional laws assented to 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 signing ceremony, Governor Oborevwori described the 2026 budget as “not merely a collection of figures, but a budget of vision, action and measurable deliverables for the next twelve months.”
He assured that his administration would hit the ground running in 2026 to fast-track development across critical sectors.
The ₦1,729,881,208,779 budget represents an increase of over 70 per cent compared to the 2025 fiscal estimate.
The Governor said the budget, though ambitious, is realistic and achievable, with 70 per cent allocated to capital expenditure and 30 per cent to recurrent spending, reflecting the administration’s strong commitment to infrastructure-driven growth and sustainable development.
He noted that in 2025, the state deepened investments in infrastructure, security, fiscal discipline and revenue optimisation, resulting in improved internally generated revenue without imposing additional burdens on citizens.
According to him, these gains underscore the effectiveness of the administration’s reforms and its resolve to further strengthen Delta’s economy.
Governor Oborevwori explained that the three accompanying laws are designed to consolidate progress in social welfare, education and security.
He said the Social Investment Programme Law provides a robust legal framework for equitable, grassroots-oriented access to resources and services, particularly for vulnerable and underserved populations, without discrimination.
He added that the Colleges of Education Law, 2025, standardises the operations of state-owned colleges, enabling them to award Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) and education degrees concurrently, while expanding their capacity to train more qualified teachers.
The Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Cultism (Amendment) Law, he said, strengthens the legal framework for combating terrorism, cultism and related crimes, aligning state legislation with evolving security realities.
The Governor commended the Speaker, leadership 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 other bills, highlighting the strong synergy between the executive and the legislature.
He also expressed appreciation to stakeholders, cabinet members, civil servants and citizens for their contributions, while wishing all Deltans a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Earlier, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, said the passage of the four bills followed rigorous legislative engagement, extensive consultations and thorough scrutiny in line with the Assembly’s constitutional responsibilities.
Guwor explained that the Social Investment Programme Law institutionalises social intervention initiatives aimed at protecting vulnerable citizens and promoting inclusive growth and social justice.
He said the Colleges of Education Law, 2025, establishes a uniform framework to improve the quality and efficiency of teacher education and reduce disparities among state-owned colleges.
He added that the Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Cultism (Amendment) Law addresses emerging security challenges and corrects gaps in the principal legislation, including the absence of a clear definition of cultism.
On the 2026 Appropriation Law, the Speaker said the House scrutinised the budget sector by sector in alignment with the MORE Agenda before approving the ₦1.729 trillion estimate.
According to him, the Governor’s assent to the bills further reflects the cordial and productive relationship between the executive and the legislature, anchored on a shared vision of a peaceful, secure and prosperous Delta State, and will significantly advance good governance and socio-economic development in the state.
