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Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Tuesday signed into law the Delta State 2026 Appropriation Bill of N1.729 trillion, christened the “Budget of Accelerating the MORE Agenda,” alongside three other key pieces of legislation passed by the State House of Assembly.

The governor’s assent clears the way for accelerated development, improved security and stronger social welfare delivery across the state in the coming year.

The additional laws assented to are the Delta State Social Investment Programme Law; the Delta State Colleges of Education Law, 2025; and the Delta State Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Cultism (Amendment) Law, 2025.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Oborevwori described the 2026 budget as “not merely a collection of figures, but a budget of vision, action and measurable deliverables,” assuring Deltans that his administration would hit the ground running in 2026 to fast-track development across critical sectors.

The N1,729,881,208,779 estimate represents an increase of over 70 per cent compared to the 2025 budget. The governor said the projection, though ambitious, was realistic and achievable, with 70 per cent earmarked for capital expenditure and 30 per cent for recurrent spending—an emphasis he said reflects his administration’s commitment to infrastructure-led growth and sustainable development.

He noted that in 2025 the state scaled up investments in infrastructure, security, fiscal discipline and revenue expansion, leading to improved internally generated revenue without placing additional burdens on citizens. According to him, the progress recorded underscores the effectiveness of ongoing reforms and the resolve to further strengthen Delta’s economy.

Oborevwori explained that the three accompanying laws were crafted to deepen social welfare, strengthen education and enhance security in the state. He said the Social Investment Programme Law provides a clear legal framework to guarantee equitable, grassroots-focused access to resources and services, especially for vulnerable and underserved groups, without discrimination.

He added that the Colleges of Education Law, 2025, standardises the operations of state-owned colleges, empowers them to award both Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) and education degrees concurrently, and expands their capacity to train more qualified teachers.

On security, the governor said the Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Cultism (Amendment) Law strengthens the state’s legal arsenal against terrorism, cultism and related crimes, bringing Delta’s laws in line with evolving security realities.

He commended the Speaker, leadership and members of the Delta State House of Assembly, as well as the Clerk and staff of the House, for the timely passage of the budget and the accompanying bills, describing the process as evidence of strong executive–legislative collaboration. He also thanked stakeholders, cabinet members, civil servants and citizens for their support, while wishing Deltans a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Earlier, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, said the passage of the four bills followed rigorous legislative engagement, extensive consultations and detailed scrutiny in line with the Assembly’s constitutional responsibilities.

Guwor explained that the Social Investment Programme Law institutionalises social intervention initiatives aimed at protecting vulnerable citizens and promoting inclusive growth and social justice, while the Colleges of Education Law, 2025, provides a uniform framework to improve the quality and efficiency of teacher education and reduce disparities among state-owned colleges.

He added that the Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Cultism (Amendment) Law responds to emerging security challenges and corrects gaps in the principal legislation, including the absence of a clear definition of cultism.

On the 2026 Appropriation Law, the Speaker said lawmakers examined the budget sector by sector in line with the MORE Agenda before approving the N1.729 trillion estimate.

According to him, the governor’s assent to the bills further reflects the cordial and productive relationship between the executive and the legislature, driven by a shared commitment to peace, security and prosperity, and will significantly advance good governance and socio-economic development in Delta State.