Aiyedatiwa Presents N492bn 2026 Budget to Ondo Assembly
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‎By Oyeniwa Elizabeth
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‎Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has presented a budget proposal of Four hundred and ninety-two billion, seven hundred and ninety-five million, six hundred and sixty-seven thousand, nine hundred and thirty-nine naira (N492,795,667,939.00)  for the 2026 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly.

‎Aiyedatiwa said that the sum of  N210 billion is for recurrent expenditure while the sum of N281 billion is for capital expenditure.
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‎The budget is tagged “Budget of Economic Consolidation.”
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‎The 2026 budget proposal is higher than the 2025 revised budget, which stands  at over  N489 billion.
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‎The Leader of the House, Hon. Olatunji Oshati, moved a motion for the governor to present the budget proposal  and it was seconded by Hon  Olatunji Fabiyi, Odigbo 1-APC.
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He recalled  that the outgoing 2025 budget was revised to meet the needs for all budgets because the initial budget could not meet its targets because expected grants were not forthcoming.
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‎He said that the government,  through a  very prudent management despite  lean resources, achieved remarkable progress in the last one year in all sectors of the state.
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‎The governor noted that infrastructural development had the highest percentage of 26.80 in the 2026 budget  proposal followed by public finance with 18.2 per cent.
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‎‎He added that trade and industry, information and environment and sewage management had lowest percentage of 1:00  in the  proposal.
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‎He noted that the proposal was justified as the natural progression from previous years’ activities and, therefore, would reflect a deliberate shift from mere restoration to sustained consolidation of economic gains.
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‎The governor said that the proposal would ensure  that the progress recorded in 2025 could mature into long-term prosperity, resilience and inclusive development.
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‎According to the governor, global economic slowdown poses risks to the state’s revenue, which relies heavily on Federation Account allocations, Personal Income Tax, VAT and other shared revenues.
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‎He added that the government’s policy thrusts and priorities for the 2026 fiscal year are designed to focus on deepening reforms and accelerating development .
‎Aiyedatiwa promised that the proposal would cater for sustained food security and agricultural transformation with human capital development and skills enhancement.
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‎He added that the proposal would focus also on infrastructure expansion and modernisation, saying that would drive sustained  drive on InternallyGenerated Revenue (IGR) mobilization.
‎He asked members of the House of Assembly to give careful consideration to the proposal and be  committed to its timely and effective implementation.
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‎“We anticipate that 2026 will bring significant progress, prosperity and well-being to our citizens,” he said.
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‎In his remarks, the Speaker of the House Rt Hon Chief Olamide  Oladiji, the Speaker of the House of the Assembly, appreciated the governor for timely presentation of the proposal.
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‎Oladiji said that the timeliness would help the lawmakers to give careful consideration to it.
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‎He added that the governor had shown exemplary leadership in the state, commending him for reviewing the salary of workers of the legislative body.
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‎According to him, the governor’s timely intervention to salvage the disagreement among the 26 lawmakers cannot be over-emphasized.
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‎The speaker promised that the budget proposal would be thoroughly screened to meet the needs of the entire citizenry and residents of the state.
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‎The Budget was consequently committed to the house Committee on Finance and Appropriation after scaling through the second reading.
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