Babatunji Wusu –
- Delta State’s 2025 Budget: N936.08 billion, a 29% increase from the previous year.
- Key Allocations: N230 billion for road infrastructure, N67.42 billion for education, N30.55 billion for health, and N7 billion for agriculture.
- Budget aims to address challenges from the fuel subsidy removal with a focus on social protection, food security, and MSME empowerment.
- Priorities include infrastructure development, human capital, job creation, and poverty reduction.
- Governor Oborevwori emphasized prudent management of resources to achieve these goals.
- Speaker Guwor praised the governor’s governance style and fiscal discipline, highlighting his efforts in completing inherited projects and saving significant funds for local governments.
The Delta State Government has proposed a budget of N936,078,818,719 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, marking an increase of N211 billion (or 29%) compared to the 2024 budget of N725 billion. Governor Rt. Honourable Sheriff Oborevwori presented the Appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly in Asaba on Thursday, describing the proposed budget as a “Budget of Fiscal Consolidation.”
The 2025 budget is divided into two main categories: recurrent expenditure of N348,717,758,635 billion (37.25% of the total) and capital expenditure of N587,361,060,084 billion (62.75% of the total). The governor highlighted several key allocations within the capital expenditure, including significant investments in infrastructure and essential sectors:
- Road Infrastructure: N230 billion
- Education: N67.42 billion
- Health: N30.55 billion
- Water Resources: N11.03 billion
- Agriculture: N7 billion
Governor Oborevwori attributed the budget increase to improved revenue generation driven by realignments in the exchange rate, which resulted in higher FAAC (Federal Allocation Accounts Committee) allocations and better internally generated revenues for the state.
In his address, the governor explained that the 2025 budget includes several initiatives aimed at mitigating the economic challenges following the fuel subsidy removal. These initiatives focus on social protection, basic rural infrastructure, agriculture, food security, agro-value chains, and the empowerment of MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises).
The 2025 budget prioritizes critical areas such as:
- Continued physical infrastructure development
- Human capital development
- Job creation and wealth generation
- Poverty reduction
- Programs targeting women and youth empowerment
Governor Oborevwori reiterated that the state government intends to achieve these objectives through prudent resource management and prioritizing expenditure on sectors like health, education, agriculture, water resources, and environmental sustainability.
He urged lawmakers to expedite the passage of the appropriation bill to ensure the timely implementation of these plans.
In his remarks, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, commended the governor for his pragmatic governance style, which has led to significant development in the state. He praised the governor for completing inherited projects from previous administrations and for his fiscal discipline, notably returning over N500 million to the state coffers while serving as Speaker and saving over N14 billion for local government councils across the state.
