Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor has opened up on the infusion of N65 billion into the State 2026 budget.
Recall that the Delta State House of Assembly on Monday passed the Appropriation Bill of N1.729 trillion, an increase of N65.5 billion over the N1.664 trillion proposal originally submitted by the State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
Addressing newsmen on Wednesday after Governor Oborevwori signed the bill alongside three others into law at Government House, Asaba, Speaker Guwor said the increase was the result of a rigorous sector‑by‑sector legislative review that uncovered urgent needs of the State.
He explained that after extensive consultations with stakeholders, the House approved a revised capital component of N1.229 trillion and a recurrent expenditure of N500 billion, resulting in the final figure of N1.729 trillion.
“What was presented to the House was a proposal. As legislators, we examined the document thoroughly and discovered areas of urgent needs that required further attention”, Guwor told reporters as contained in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, CPS Nkem Nwaeke.
The Speaker identified the newly enacted Social Investment Programme Law, which carries a N10 billion allocation in the 2026 budget, as a major driver of the N65 billion addition.
“Today we also signed into law the Social Investment Programme, which has a provision of about N10 billion in the 2026 Budget. That alone accounts for a significant part of the increase. Other sectors were also re‑tweaked to address pressing needs of the people,” he explained.
Flanked by the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Arthur Akpowowo, the House Leader, Hon Emeka Nwaobi, Chief Whip, Perkins Umukoro and Deputy Chief Whip, Fred Martins, the Speaker emphasized that the decision was collective and rooted in the Assembly’s duty to protect the interests of Deltans, not a personal agenda.
“This is not about the Speaker. It is about the House and the people of Delta State. Our priority was to place the interest of Deltans first, which informed the increase from N1.664 trillion to N1.729 trillion,” Guwor said.
The Speaker pledged robust oversight, assuring that the various standing committees of the House would monitor ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the state government to guarantee full and lawful implementation of the approved projects and programmes.
“With effective oversight, MDAs will be compelled to implement the budget strictly in line with the law passed by the House,” the Speaker added.
The 2026 Appropriation Law, entitled “Budget of Accelerating the MORE Agenda,” was passed by the House at plenary after a third reading moved by the House Leader Hon. Emeka Nwaobi (Aniocha North) and seconded by Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo (Ethiope East).
