The Delta State Government has urged Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to exercise prudence and discernment in articulating their vision for the 2025 budget. This call is aimed at advancing Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s MORE agenda for sustainable development.
The State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Hon. Sunny Ekedayen made this appeal during the ongoing 2025 budget defense at the Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat in Asaba, the state capital.
Addressing the gathering, Ekedayen noted that the past 12 months have been among the most turbulent for Nigeria’s economy. He emphasized that no forecaster could have fully predicted the scale of the challenges faced by the country during this period.
“The essence of this exercise is to provide MDAs the opportunity to present and defend their budget proposals, outlining their planned programmes and the financial resources they require for the coming year.”
Ekedayen further explained that Nigeria had undergone significant economic shifts in the last year, driven by major factors such as exchange rate liberalization and the removal of fuel subsidy.
“Either one of these factors—exchange rate liberalization or subsidy removal—could have caused significant disruption. Together, they have led to the economic dislocation we are experiencing today,” the Commissioner remarked.
He also revealed a worrying statistic: In the past year, Nigeria’s revenue-to-debt ratio reached 97%, meaning that nearly all of the revenue generated was used to service debt. Despite the country’s considerable debt profile, revenue generation remained insufficient. He stressed that these economic realities were carefully considered in the preparation of the 2025 budget.
“By IMF standards, the debt profile should be 35% for servicing debt and 65% to sustain the economy. However, as of the last count, the GDP ratio dropped from 10.3% to 9.7%. This indicates that the country is not generating enough from its assets to sustain the economy,” Ekedayen explained.
He continued, “The implication of this is that the Federal Government will likely increase taxes and levies, a trend we have already started experiencing. The hardship may not end soon, but at the end of the tunnel, we expect to emerge stronger, even though we will be badly hurt in the process.”
Ekedayen disclosed that the proposed 2025 budget stands at N936 billion, reflecting a 30% increase from the N725 billion budgeted in 2024. However, he cautioned that this increase does not translate to greater purchasing power due to the declining value of money.
“Though the 2025 budget appears larger, the quantum leap is substantial, yet the goods and services it can procure are far fewer than what could have been bought a year ago,” he noted.
He added, “The N936 billion budget should ideally serve the entire needs of Delta State, but with the rising cost of living, it is insufficient. Nonetheless, we will do our best, utilizing the instruments of the MDAs to reach as many people as possible.”
Explaining the methodology behind the Delta State 2025 budget, Ekedayen stated, “To ensure financial stability, the 2025 budget is based on actual revenue receipts from June to date. Our aim was to use realistic and sustainable figures to avoid any financial setbacks.”
He urged all participants in the budget process to approach their work with seriousness, honesty, realism, and diligence.
“This is a very serious process. We must be as transparent and judicious as possible because, though the budget has increased, it is still insufficient to meet all the needs of our people,” Ekedayen advised.
 to exercise prudence in articulating their vision for the 2025 budget){kind=link}