Governor Alex Otti of Abia, on Monday, assented to the state’s 2026 Appropriation Bill of N1.016 trillion as passed by the state house of assembly.

In a speech at the brief event held at Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, Mr Otti pledged that, barring unforeseen circumstances, the 2026 budget would be judiciously implemented to advance development in Abia.

The governor assured that the state government would remain disciplined and committed to implementing the approved budget.

Mr Otti stressed that any future adjustments, if unavoidable, would be brought back to the House of Assembly with proper justification.

He commended the team that prepared the appropriation bill and the lawmakers for its speedy passage.

The governor noted that the House demonstrated attention to detail and did not merely pass the bill without scrutiny, adding that the engagements between the executive and legislative arms reflected the true spirit of democracy.

He expressed satisfaction that, despite the rigorous review process, the major figures remained unchanged, with the total budget standing at N1.016 trillion and capital and recurrent allocations retained.

Mr Otti said that the budget reflects the government’s philosophy of empowerment driven by creating an enabling environment for business, alongside investments in health, education, environmental sanitation, and roads.

In his remark, the assembly speaker, Emmanuel Emeruwa, said the budget, titled “Project of Acceleration and New Possibilities,” signified a stage where strong foundations had been laid to enable faster development.

Mr Emeruwa noted that the state was close to closing developmental gaps created over the past 24 years, describing the moment as a return to “ground zero” and the beginning of accelerated progress.

The speaker commended the governor’s leadership and pledged continued support for initiatives to improve employment, education, health, and other key sectors.

(NAN)