Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, on Thursday presented a proposed budget of *N490.74 billion for the 2027 fiscal year to the Ekiti State House of Assembly.
The presentation, made at the Assembly Chamber in Ado-Ekiti in accordance with Section 124, Subsection 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), was christened the *”Budget of Sustained Progress and Prosperity.”*
Governor Oyebanji said the budget was carefully designed to consolidate the achievements of his administration and lay a solid foundation for the next four years, in alignment with the state’s 30-year development plan covering 2021 to 2051.
Giving a breakdown, the Governor said the proposal comprises *N275.68 billion for recurrent expenditure* and *N215.06 billion for capital expenditure.*
According to him, the 2027 proposal will focus on the six pillars of his administration, which include education and healthcare; good governance and transparency; arts, culture and tourism; youth and job creation; infrastructure and industrialisation; as well as agriculture and rural development.
He added that the proposal would further consolidate the gains recorded under his administration’s Shared Prosperity Agenda, while providing a framework for sustained development across the state.
Earlier, the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, commended the governor, saying the proposed budget reflected the aspirations and needs of the people as expressed during town hall engagements across the state’s three senatorial districts.
He assured that the Assembly would give the budget thorough attention.
“As we receive this Bill today, the Assembly will approach its legislative review with patriotism, objectivity, and thoroughness,” Aribasoye said.
“Our scrutiny will rest on key imperatives: Constitutionality and Legality — ensuring alignment with Section 121 of the Constitution, the Fiscal Responsibility Law, and extant financial regulations; Realism of Revenue Projections — verifying that expected revenue sources are achievable and grounded in economic reality; Stakeholder Engagement — guaranteeing that the public hearing process captures input from constituents and civil society; Equity and Spread — ensuring equitable distribution of projects across the three Senatorial Districts, sixteen Local Governments, and twenty-two Local Council Development Areas; Prioritisation — balancing Recurrent and Capital Expenditure to address the critical needs of our people.
“Where cooperation is required, we shall cooperate. Where scrutiny is required, we shall scrutinise. Where accountability is required, we shall demand it. This is not contradiction; it is constitutional democracy at work.”
The presentation was witnessed by the wife of the governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji; Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye; members of the State Executive Council, traditional rulers and other government officials and stakeholders.