Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State on Tuesday presented an N884.87 billion appropriation bill for the 2026 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly in Abakaliki. The budget, described as the “Budget of Actualisation and Hope,” is anchored on the government’s People’s Charter of Needs philosophy and is designed to sustain fiscal consolidation, accelerate economic growth, and promote human capital development across the state.

Presenting the proposal, the governor announced that the capital expenditure stands at N749.49 billion, representing 84.7 per cent of the budget, while recurrent expenditure is pegged at N135.38 billion, or 15.3 per cent. He said the structure shows the administration’s commitment to driving development through major capital investments.

A detailed breakdown showed that the economic sector was allocated N492.9 billion, accounting for 55.7 per cent of the budget. The social sector received N247.97 billion, or 28.02 per cent, the administrative sector got N137.37 billion, representing 15.52 per cent, while the law and justice sector was assigned N5.03 billion. The regional sector received N1.56 billion.

Mr Nwifuru projected that statutory allocations from the Federal Allocation Accounts Committee would fund 53.1 per cent of the budget. Independent revenue is expected to contribute 5.5 per cent, while capital development funds, including grants and donor-assisted receipts, would provide 37.5 per cent. He stressed that the borrowing plan was focused on long-term value, saying, “We are borrowing not to pay salaries, not to fund consumption, but to create a strategic industrial legacy that will serve Ebonyi for generations.”

The governor explained that the budget was shaped by citizen input through participatory budgeting, adding that it prioritised quality education, improved healthcare, agricultural growth, youth empowerment, and the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises. He reflected on achievements under the 2025 budget, highlighting timely salary payments, the settlement of inherited pension arrears, and an empowerment programme that supported more than 5,000 beneficiaries across the 13 local government areas.

On education, Mr Nwifuru said the government had made major investments, including the establishment of the University of Information, Communication, and Technology at Oferekpe Agbaja and the University of Aeronautic Engineering at Ezza. He noted that 43 model secondary schools were under construction and more than 1,000 students had received local and international postgraduate scholarships.

In the health sector, he stated that free maternal healthcare for pregnant women remained active, and new healthcare workers had been recruited to strengthen services. He also listed progress in agriculture, such as mechanisation support, fertiliser distribution, the revival of the Nkaliki Hatchery, and the construction of a major feed mill.

Commenting on infrastructure, the governor expressed satisfaction with the progress of the VANCO flyover and tunnel projects, township road rehabilitation, and rural road construction. He added that peace-building efforts had stabilised several communities and noted that plans were advancing to establish an industrial city and a cement factory in the state.

Mr Nwifuru urged lawmakers to give the bill accelerated passage and assured them that his administration would continue to manage resources responsibly. He described the appropriation bill as the largest in the state’s history and a clear sign of his government’s commitment to meaningful and long-term development. He said, “This budget is crafted to ensure that the efforts we have started translate into tangible realities for our people; it is a budget of hope, but more importantly, one of actualisation.”