Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has presented a proposed ₦490.74bn budget for the 2027 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly, outlining plans to sustain development across key sectors of the state.

The proposal, christened the “Budget of Sustained Progress and Prosperity,” was presented at the Assembly complex in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday. Oyebanji said the estimates were designed to consolidate his administration’s ongoing programmes and provide a framework for further development in the coming years.

The proposed Ekiti 2027 Budget comprises ₦275.68bn for recurrent expenditure and ₦215.06bn for capital expenditure. The allocations represent approximately 56 per cent and 44 per cent of the total budget, respectively.

According to the governor, the budget will focus on six key pillars: education and healthcare; good governance and transparency; arts, culture and tourism; youth development and job creation; infrastructure and industrialisation; and agriculture and rural development.

Oyebanji said the proposal aligns with the state’s long-term development plan and is intended to support existing initiatives, complete priority projects and address the needs of residents across Ekiti.

The state government also identified infrastructure, agriculture and food security, healthcare, education, youth skills, innovation, job creation and technology as areas expected to receive attention under the proposed spending plan.

The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, said the proposal reflected concerns and priorities raised by residents during town hall engagements held across the state’s three senatorial districts.

Aribasoye assured the governor that lawmakers would subject the budget to thorough legislative scrutiny, including an assessment of its revenue projections, compliance with relevant laws, distribution of projects and balance between recurrent and capital expenditure.

He said the Assembly would also examine whether the projected revenue was realistic and ensure that public hearings captured contributions from constituents and civil society groups.

The Speaker added that lawmakers would assess the proposed distribution of projects across Ekiti’s three senatorial districts, 16 local government areas and 22 local council development areas.