…expands 2026 budget to N1.1tn

By Adeola Badru

Governor Seyi Makinde has urged the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) to suspend its ongoing strike and reopen public schools shut in protest over the abduction of teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area, assuring residents that efforts are being intensified to secure the victims’ release.

The appeal came as the State Executive Council approved N8.7 billion for the procurement of teaching and learning materials and increased the 2026 budget to N1.1 trillion to accelerate development projects across the state.

The appeal was contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, following the Executive Council meeting held.

According to the Commissioner: “While the reasons for the withdrawal of the students from school by the NUT are understandable, the collateral implications, both social and economic, are raising unintended concerns and should equally be considered by the NUT.”

The council reassured residents that the government is taking strategic measures to ensure that the kidnapping incident in the Oriire Local Government Area is resolved as soon as possible.

During the meeting, the Council approved the release of N8,768,954,000 (Eight Billion, Seven Hundred and Sixty-Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Four Thousand Naira) in the first instance for the procurement of teaching and learning materials for primary and junior secondary schools across the state. The total cost of the project stood at N23,012,000,000 (twenty-three billion, twelve million naira).

In line with the requirements of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Abuja, in collaboration with the World Bank, the textbooks to be procured will cover numeracy, literacy, mathematics, English language and basic science.

The Commissioner said: “Upon the successful procurement and distribution of the approved textbooks, Oyo State becomes eligible for a reward-based disbursement of two United States dollars (US$2) per student per subject, in line with the project’s results-based financing arrangement.”

The Council also approved the realignment and supplementary budget for the 2026 fiscal year.

Prince Oyelade explained that, in order to fulfil the aspirations of the present administration and its determination to ensure that all ongoing projects across the state are completed before the end of its tenure, several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) requested upward budget reviews.

Consequently, the Council approved an increase in the 2026 budget from N892,085,074,480.79 (Eight Hundred and Ninety-Two Billion, Eighty-Five Million, Seventy-Four Thousand, Four Hundred and Eighty Naira, Seventy-Nine Kobo) to ₦1,102,085,074,480.79 (One Trillion, One Hundred and Two Billion, Eighty-Five Million, Seventy-Four Thousand, Four Hundred and Eighty Naira, Seventy-Nine Kobo).

The Commissioner further disclosed that the Council was briefed on the need to approve the execution of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)-related implementation programmes being undertaken by the Office of the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat in collaboration with the Oyo State AfCFTA office.

He noted that the Secretary-General of AfCFTA commended Governor Seyi Makinde for the remarkable progress recorded in the implementation of the initiative within Oyo State, which has opened up trade and investment opportunities across Africa, particularly in the areas of industrialisation, agribusiness and export-orientated enterprises.

To strengthen the state’s position within the continental trade framework, the Council approved the payment of US$250,000 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with the objective of giving Oyo State a stronger footing in attracting investment opportunities across Africa.

The Commissioner also revealed that following the successful implementation of the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) programme in Oyo State last year, the Council approved the sum of ₦5,909,734,750.00 (five billion, nine hundred and nine million, seven hundred and thirty-four thousand, seven hundred and fifty naira) for the implementation of the 2026 Work Plan covering the health insurance and food security components of the initiative.

He recalled that SAfER was established by Governor Seyi Makinde in 2023 to cushion the economic effects of the federal government’s removal of the fuel subsidy.

As part of the intervention, transportation costs were reduced for workers, elderly citizens and vulnerable groups. Food assistance was distributed, and health insurance coverage was provided for pensioners, while support was also extended to small-scale entrepreneurs across the state.

The Council expressed the conviction that the intervention should continue, given that the economic hardship currently being experienced by citizens has not abated.

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