Adejoke Adeleye, Ogun
The Ogun State budget of ₦1,668,997,993,125.44 for the 2026 Appropriation Bill, presented to the State Assembly on Wednesday by the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and titled “Budget of Sustainable Legacy,” has scaled second reading as members engaged in extensive deliberation on the fiscal proposal.
The debate on the appropriation bill followed the motion moved by the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon. Musefiu Lamidi, seconded by Hon. Wahab Haruna and supported by the whole House through a voice vote.
Leading the debate on the appropriation bill, Hon. Lamidi noted that the budget was a testament to the shared commitment of the current administration to ensuring continuity, consolidation, and responsible governance.
“It reflects the collective aspiration of our people for sustained development, effective service delivery, and an economy that continues to expand opportunities for all.
“Honourable colleagues, the Budget of Sustained Legacy has been carefully designed to achieve five major objectives: to sustain and complete strategic infrastructure projects that stimulate investment, ease transportation, and support economic competitiveness.”
He added that the appropriation bill would strengthen the social sector—particularly education, healthcare, and social welfare—ensuring citizens receive quality services. He stated further that it would help empower youth and create jobs by enabling innovation, entrepreneurship, and private-sector-led expansion.
According to him, the 2026 budget would help “deepen public financial management reforms, promoting transparency, accountability, and value for money across all MDAs; and ensure equitable distribution of development across all zones of our dear state, so that no community is left behind.”
“This fiscal proposal, Mr. Speaker, is aligned with our long-term development agenda. It seeks to consolidate gains from previous years while positioning the state for future growth.
“It also demonstrates the Executive’s commitment to prudent spending, revenue optimisation, and sustainable debt management—all crucial to maintaining the financial health of Ogun State.
“Our task as legislators is to examine this budget with fairness, clarity, and depth. And as Chairman of the Finance and Appropriation Committee, I assure this Honourable House that we will carry out a thorough review at the committee stage, engage all relevant MDAs diligently, and ensure that every allocation reflects genuine development needs.
“However, while we commit to deep scrutiny, we must also recognise the importance of timely passage. The people of Ogun State expect stable governance and uninterrupted execution of critical projects. Delays can hinder progress, and progress is the very essence of this budget.
“Therefore, Honourable colleagues, I respectfully urge this House to support the second reading of the Budget of Sustained Legacy, allowing us to advance to the next stage of detailed review, stakeholder engagement, and responsible appropriation,” he stated.
All other lawmakers supported his position, commending the Governor for his relentless efforts at repositioning the state for socio-economic development.
The lawmakers urged the state government to ensure that all projects listed in the next fiscal year are evenly distributed, especially in rural and border communities, to advance development at the grassroots level.
They also requested increased release of funds to critical sectors such as health, agriculture, public order, and safety, in order to improve health facilities, enhance food security, and strengthen security within communities in the state.
The lawmakers further lauded the state government for promoting accountability and transparency, which, they said, would enhance economic stability and support all-round development.
In the same vein, the lawmakers approved a ₦300 billion funding request to support the 2026 Annual Budget, the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), and other long-term infrastructural projects, as well as funding of long-term pension obligations.
The approval followed the presentation of the report of the Committee of the Whole titled “H.R. No. 157/OG/2025 – Request for Bond Issuance, Public Offering, Book Building, Private Placement or other methods to raise the sum of Three Hundred Billion Naira (₦300,000,000,000.00) towards the partial funding of the 2026 Annual Budget and the 2026–2028 MTEF,” presented by the Deputy Speaker, Bolanle Lateefat Ajayi, during plenary presided over by Speaker Oludaisi Elemide at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
According to the report, the Assembly considered and endorsed the Governor’s request to fund the 2026 annual budget, the 2026–2028 MTEF, long-term infrastructure projects, and pension obligations.
The Deputy Speaker later moved the motion for the adoption of the report, seconded by the Majority Leader, Hon. Yusuf Sherif. Sherif thereafter moved that the report become a resolution of the House; this was seconded by the Minority Leader, Lukman Adeleye, and supported by the entire House through a unanimous voice vote.
The Speaker thereafter directed the Clerk/Head of Legislative Service, Mr. Sakiru Adebakin, to send clean copies of the approval to the Governor and other relevant stakeholders.
In his remarks, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, appreciated the Governor for the fiscal proposal and urged lawmakers to prioritise their core mandate of robust oversight to ensure all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are properly monitored so that the budget is implemented to the letter.
He emphasised the need for clear sectoral performance indicators to strengthen accountability and ensure effective evaluation of government programmes across the state.
The subsequent adoption of the debate was done through a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sherif, seconded by Hon. Lukman Adeleye and supported by the entire House. The Speaker thereafter committed the appropriation bill to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for further legislative action.
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