Otti, Soludo, Nwifuru Present Appropriation Bills for 2026 Fiscal Year

Abia proposes N1tn; Anambra, N757bn and Ebonyi N884.8bn

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka, Boniface Okoro in Umuahia and Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki

Three states in the South-east yesterday submitted their proposed budgets for 2026 to their various legislatures, led by the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, who presented a bill of N1.016 trillion; Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who made a proposal of N757 billion and Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, who submitted an estimate of N884.868 billion.

Otti laid the bill christened: “Budget of Acceleration and New Possibilities” representing a 13 per cent increase from that of 2025, before the state lawmakers. In the 2026 estimates, N811,813,769,862.24 (80 per cent of the draft bill) has been proposed for capital expenditure, while N204,414,302,789.75 (20 per cent of the budget) is for recurrent expenditure

“A total outlay of N811.8 billion for capital projects represents a 32 per cent jump from our 2025 proposal which stood at N726.4 billion. Conversely, the size of the envelope for recurrent expenditure has been raised by 33 per cent from last year’s figure which stood at N136 billion. 

“The increase is to enable us to support critical day-to-day administrative functions and effectively meet our obligations to personnel, especially with the addition of thousands of new employees to the payroll,” the governor said. 

As has been the practice of the Otti administration, 20 per cent of the total budget, amounting to N203.2 billion was allocated to the education sector for the 2026 fiscal year.

Of this sum, N150.4 billion would be committed to offset recurrent expenditures like paying the salaries of about 15,000 teachers working in primary and secondary schools and in the execution of capital projects.

The governor also maintained the culture of allocating 15 per cent of the proposed budget, representing N149.7 billion to the health sector. He said the money will cover programmes and activities connected to healthcare delivery services in the 2026 fiscal year.

To continue with his aggressive road infrastructure development programme in 2026, the governor said the sum of N169.3 billion, representing 16.7 per cent of the total envelope, has been budgeted for road construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation and maintenance through the Ministry of Works.

In Anambra, Soludo presented a budget proposal of N757 billion to the state house of assembly for approval for the 2026 fiscal year.

Giving a breakdown, the governor said the budget was made up of N595.3 billion capital expenditure, accounting for 79 per cent of the total budget size, while N161.6 billion was allocated for recurrent expenditure, translating to 21 per cent of the total budget size.

The governor said the budget has a deficit of N225.7 billion, which is expected to be financed through hybrid funding options, public–private partnerships, improved internally generated revenue, concessions and support from financial institutions.

“I present to you the proposed 2026 budget, totaling N757,884,487,705. Compared to the 2025 budget of N606.99 billion, this represents a 24.1 per cent increase. We recorded over 60 per cent budget performance in 2025. Despite it being an election year, we remained focused and in execution mode.

“The 2026 budget framework is designed to drive growth across all sectors. We remain committed to responsible fiscal management, with no borrowing for consumption. I want to assure you that every kobo will be prudently utilised to maximise value for the people of Anambra and we will continue to lay the foundation for the prosperous, livable and smart homeland we envisioned,” he said.

Soludo said the proposed budget which is tagged: ‘Changing Gears 3.0: Solution Continues’, reflected intensified focus on the execution of his administration’s transformative agenda.

THISDAY reports that last year’s budget was N606 billion, with N151 billion difference, and 24.1 per cent increase.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic planning, Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake, during a press conference to break down the proposed budget said it will be financed through federal and internally generated revenue. 

She stated that although the Anambra State Government is not doing as much as it should in internally generated revenue, the state is more concerned about ensuring that its taxes are well structured to avoid abuse.

She added: “As at October, our 2025 budget has performed up to 61 per cent. Considering that it was an election year and we were into electioneering, you will know that we performed well.

“Despite the election, works went on and asphalting of roads continued even after the election all through and that is impressive. Last year we did 71 per cent in budget performance, so this year I’m expecting that we will do better, if not for anything, we should be able to do 75 per cent by December 31.”

Similarly, Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has presented a total budget estimate of N884.868 billion for the 2026 fiscal year to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.

Tagged: “Budget of Actualisation and Hope”, the governor said the budget was crafted in strict alignment with his administration’s ‘People’s Charter of Needs’ philosophy, which is aimed at accelerating infrastructure expansion, strengthening human capital, and consolidating ongoing reforms across key sectors.

Nwifuru added the budget would drive industrialisation, deepen economic recovery, and elevate the standard of living for Ebonyi people with capital expenditure of N749.49 representing 84.7 per cent of the total budget, and a recurrent expenditure of N135.37 billion. 

“We restored not just their financial stability but their dignity,” he said, praising the State Assembly for its consistent legislative support”.

“We are building not just roads and schools, but resilient people empowered to be globally competitive,” he said.