In this report, Fidelis David critically dissects the 2026 budget proposal recently presented by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to Ondo State House of Assembly, probing a crucial question: will the fiscal plan make a tangible impact on the lives of the average resident of the Sunshine State?
In recent years, Ondo State has gradually reinvented its public finance system, shifting from the days of heavy borrowing and recurrent-heavy expenditure to a more disciplined, investment-focused model.
Under late Governor OluwarotimiAkeredolu, the state prioritised infrastructure but faced revenue constraints and debts that left several projects hanging. His successor, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who stepped in amid economic uncertainty, introduced what he termed a “Budget of Recovery” in 2025, focusing on stabilisation and revising inflated donor projections. That budget was later revised down from N698.6 billion to N489.9 billion to reflect more realistic expectations.