The Chairman of Ethiope West Local Government Area, Christian Onogba, has presented a ₦15.3 billion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year, with strong emphasis on infrastructure, healthcare, education, and security.
Tagged “Budget of Renewed Transformation,” the proposal, valued at ₦15,317,784,073.35, was submitted to the legislative arm as part of efforts to accelerate grassroots development across the state.
Onogba explained that the late presentation of the budget was due to adjustments required by a new template introduced by the Office of the Local Government Auditor-General, which mandated strict compliance.
He said the budget was the product of a comprehensive needs assessment across sectors, aimed at consolidating gains recorded in 2025 while addressing pressing developmental challenges.
Key priority areas outlined in the proposal include improved security coverage, enhanced educational facilities, strengthened primary healthcare delivery, upgraded markets, and execution of critical infrastructure projects.
The council boss noted that despite challenges in the 2025 fiscal year, his administration ensured prompt payment of salaries and imprests, alongside the completion of several projects.
A breakdown of the 2026 proposal shows that ₦9.64 billion is allocated for recurrent expenditure, while ₦5.68 billion is earmarked for capital projects, representing 37.1 percent of the total budget.
He added that the new budget reflects a 4.30 percent increase from the 2025 appropriation of ₦14.66 billion, attributing the rise to the administration’s commitment to expanding development initiatives.
