2026 Budget Signing Marks Productive Legislative Year

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By Ojo Ayodeji

The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, has described the signing of the 2026 Appropriation Law and two other bills as a major milestone that rounded off a productive legislative year in the state.

Aribasoye made the remarks on Tuesday at the Governor’s Office in Ado-Ekiti during the signing ceremony of the ₦415.5 billion 2026 Budget by Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Babajide Agbeyo, the Speaker said the successful passage and assent to the budget reflected a strong and mutually beneficial working relationship between the executive and the legislature in Ekiti State.

According to him, the ceremony went beyond a constitutional routine, as it demonstrated purposeful governance and institutional synergy aimed at delivering dividends of democracy to the people.

At the event, Governor Oyebanji assented to the 2026 Appropriation Law, the Ekiti State College of Technology, Ijero-Ekiti Law, 2025, and the Ekiti State Revenue Administration Law, 2025.

Aribasoye said the budget process passed through all statutory stages, including pre-budget oversight, public hearings, legislative debates and budget defence by Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

He noted that transparency and accountability were prioritised throughout the exercise to ensure compliance with sound fiscal standards.

The Speaker disclosed that the 2026 budget makes provision of ₦221.8 billion for recurrent expenditure and ₦193.6 billion for capital expenditure, reflecting the government’s focus on governance stability and infrastructural development.

On revenue reforms, Aribasoye said Ekiti State had taken a leading position nationally with the signing of the Revenue Administration Law, describing the state as the first to pass and assent to the legislation.

He explained that the law recognises the Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service as the sole revenue-collecting agency, introduces electronic billing and payment systems, and eliminates cash transactions to curb revenue leakages.

Aribasoye also said the Ekiti State College of Technology, Ijero-Ekiti Law repealed the 2019 College of Health Sciences and Technology Law and upgraded the institution to a full-fledged polytechnic.

According to him, the new law provides a clear framework for governance, academic programmes, accreditation, regulatory affiliations and sustainable funding, including internally generated revenue.

The Speaker commended Governor Oyebanji for his leadership and praised members of the House for their commitment to enacting laws aimed at promoting development and welfare in the state.

Governor Oyebanji, in his remarks, appreciated members of the Assembly for their cooperation during the budget process and assured residents that his administration would continue to pursue policies that would advance the development of Ekiti State.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Joint Revenue Board, Mr Olusegun Adesokan, described the revenue law as a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to good governance and fiscal accountability.