Rivers Assembly Assures Swift Consideration of Fubara's ₦1.854tn Budget

The Rivers State House of Assembly has assured Governor Siminalayi Fubara that it will give speedy consideration to the proposed ₦1.854 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill, despite its presentation midway into the fiscal year. Lawmakers pledged to expedite the legislative process while ensuring full compliance with constitutional and fiscal responsibility requirements.

Governor Fubara presented the budget, tagged "Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development," before the Assembly in Port Harcourt. He explained that the proposal was developed through extensive public consultations and is designed to promote economic resilience, infrastructure development, human capital advancement and improved living standards for Rivers residents. The budget allocates ₦1.405 trillion to capital expenditure and about ₦413.11 billion to recurrent expenditure.

The governor said the state's projected revenue for 2026 represents a 24.49 per cent increase over the adjusted 2025 budget, driven by anticipated improvements in Federation Account allocations, derivation funds and internally generated revenue. He stressed that his administration remains committed to prudent financial management, transparency and accountability despite the political challenges it has faced.

Responding on behalf of the lawmakers, Speaker Martin Amaewhule acknowledged that the budget arrived later than expected but assured the governor that the Assembly would carefully scrutinise the estimates while working quickly in the interest of the state. He said the House would invite relevant ministries, departments and agencies to defend their proposals before concluding its legislative review.

Amaewhule added that the Assembly remains committed to supporting initiatives that will improve the welfare of Rivers residents, particularly in sectors such as education, healthcare and infrastructure. Following the presentation, the Appropriation Bill passed its first reading, marking the beginning of the legislative process toward its eventual consideration and approval.