Governors Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Duoye Diri (Bayelsa), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) yesterday signed the 2026 Appropriation Bills into law.

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly passed the 2026 Appropriation Bill of N545.2 billion into law.

The state lawmakers had jacked up the proposed budget from N517.5 billion to N545.2 billion, indicating a N27.6 billion increase.

Speaker Danladi Jatau announced the passage of the Bill into law during proceedings in Lafia, the state capital.

“The Capital Expenditure is N316,265,270,661.07 billion and the Recurrent Expenditure is N228.717,880,249.07 billion,” he said. Jatau urged the executive to ensure full implementation of the budget.

The Speaker explained that the N27.6 billion increment was due to the current surge of inflation.

“In the upward review, security votes and services in the Office of the Secretary (SSG) to the State Government and Ministry of Special Duties, Security and Sundry Matters received additional N14 billion, while the Ministry of Local Government got additional N7 billion.

“The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism received a boost of N3.7 billion and the construction of the 55-kilometre Lafia-Kwandere-Garaku road, among others,” he added.

Majority Leader Suleiman Yakubu Azara moved the motion for the passage of the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law and Minority Leader Luka Iliya Zhekaba seconded the motion. The lawmakers unanimously passed the Appropriation Bill into law.

In Bayelsa State, Governor Diri signed the state’s 2026 Appropriation Bill of N1.016 trillion into law alongside six other Bills.

The other legislations are: the Rural Access Funds Law 2025, Rural Access Road Authority Law 2025, Water Sector Law 2025, Statistics Law 2025, Harmonised Taxes and Levies Approved List for Collection Law 2025 and the Bayelsa Medical University Amendment Law 2025.

The governor said N998.371 billion was initially presented to the House of Assembly on November 13 for scrutiny and approval.

He said after a careful perusal and consultation with the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), the Assembly increased it by N17.7 billion, representing 1.77 per cent.

Diri assured the people that his administration would ensure the full implementation of the 2026 budget, as he was able to keep to the budget cycle of January to December in the outgoing year.

He thanked the lawmakers for the timely passage of the Bills, stressing that the cooperation among the three arms of government would enable them to continue to address the developmental challenges of the state.

“Let us continue to keep this mutual understanding and relationship to foster sustainable growth and development of our state. But, of course, there must be checks and balances.

“If there is any implementation that is not going on well, exercise your powers to ensure that this law is adhered to. On our part, we will try our best to ensure full implementation of this Appropriation Law 2026,” Diri told the lawmakers.

Presenting the Bills, Speaker Abraham Ingobere said the “Budget of ASSURED Prosperity II” was more than just a piece of legislation but a symbol of appreciation for the strides the state had made in improving the lives of the residents through infrastructure development, healthcare, public utilities, education, and agriculture, among others.

In Edo State, Governor Okpebholo said the “Budget of Hope and Growth” would take the state to greater heights.

Last week, the governor presented the N939 billion Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly for scrutiny and passage.

The Assembly passed the budget into law after an interface with relevant commissioners and government agencies.

Speaker Blessing Agbebaku noted that the governor has transformed the state, saying the people benefited from his practical governance style.

He said: “History has been made by this administration. You are hungry to develop Edo State. Your administration is building the first and second flyover bridges in Edo State and you will be remembered by the people because these are landmark projects.”

In Ekiti State, Governor Oyebanji assented to the 2026 budget of N415.573 billion.

The governor also signed two other Bills – Ekiti State Revenue Administration Law, 2025, and the Ekiti State College of Technology, Ijero-Ekiti Bill, 2025 – into law.

The governor described the three legislations as critical to the realisation of his administration’s shared prosperity agenda.

He said the development was a product of collaboration between the executive and legislative arms.

Oyebanji noted that the timely passage of the budget would ensure the sustenance of the January–December fiscal cycle in line with global best practices.

The governor said the “Budget of Sustainable Governance” stood at N415,572,070,139.44, with 47 per cent allocated to Capital Expenditure and 53 per cent to Recurrent Expenditure.

He explained that the budget was prepared after wide consultations with the people and that it aligned with the six pillars of his administration, which were derived from the Ekiti State Development Plan 2021–2050.

Oyebanji stressed that the priority areas in the 2026 fiscal year include the completion of ongoing projects, food security, wealth creation and infrastructural development.

The governor said the budget would also help his administration to consolidate its achievements as it approaches the end of its first term in office.

He said the new legislation on Ekiti State College of Technology, Ijero-Ekiti, repealed the former College of Health Sciences and Technology Law of 2019, effectively upgrading the institution to a polytechnic.

The governor expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting Ekiti State.

He assured the residents that his administration would continue to pursue policies aimed at improving the welfare and prosperity of the people. (The Nation)

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