Mbah Submits ₦1.62 Trillion 2026 Budget to Enugu Assembly, Targets Accelerated Growth

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State on Tuesday presented a ₦1.62 trillion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year to the Enugu State House of Assembly. The appropriation bill, titled “Budget of Renewed Momentum,” represents a 66.5 percent increase from the 2025 budget size of ₦971 billion.

Mbah explained that the substantial increase is intended to consolidate the gains recorded over the past two years and to sustain the reforms and investments already underway across the state. He stated that ₦321 billion is allocated to recurrent expenditure, while capital projects will receive ₦1.29 trillion. The governor added that the budget is anchored on the administration’s four central pillars: empowerment and education, inclusive development, good governance, and economic transformation.

He noted that the government plans to finance the budget through ₦870 billion expected from internally generated revenue, ₦387 billion from federal allocations, and ₦329 billion from capital receipts. Mbah further disclosed that the economic sector received the largest allocation of ₦825 billion to support infrastructure expansion, agricultural development, and industrial growth. The social sector was allocated ₦644 billion to strengthen education, healthcare, social services, and human capital development.

Other allocations include ₦128 billion for administration, ₦15 billion for law and justice, and ₦2 billion for regional development. The governor reported that the 2025 budget recorded an 83 percent implementation rate, adding that the figure is expected to improve before year-end.

The Speaker of the State Assembly, Chief Uche Ugwu, commended the governor for what he described as impressive achievements within two years and pledged the Assembly’s full cooperation, including speedy consideration and passage of the appropriation bill. Earlier in the year, the state had signed an MoU with Lion Business Park Limited to develop a modern industrial and commercial hub within the Enugu Industrial Park Free Trade Zone, a project expected to significantly boost the state’s GDP and expand opportunities for jobs, innovation, and economic growth.