Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Friday presented a ₦1.854 trillion appropriation bill for the 2026 fiscal year to the Rivers State House of Assembly, marking a significant step in the state’s budget process amid efforts to strengthen cooperation between the executive and legislature following months of political tensions.
Speaker Martin Amaewhule received the proposal during plenary at the Assembly Quarters Auditorium, the temporary venue being used by the House.
Tagged the “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development,” the proposed 2026 spending plan is 24.49% higher than the revised 2025 budget, reflecting the administration’s intention to increase public investment in infrastructure and social services.
The budget provides ₦1.405 trillion for capital expenditure and ₦413.1 billion for recurrent expenditure, underscoring the government’s continued emphasis on capital projects. According to the budget proposal, the remaining component of the total appropriation covers other statutory expenditure items contained in the fiscal framework.
A breakdown of the proposed allocations shows that the Works and Infrastructure sector received the largest share at ₦533.3 billion, followed by ₦315 billion for education and ₦105.4 billion for healthcare. The Rivers State House of Assembly was allocated ₦41.4 billion, while the judiciary is expected to receive ₦30 billion.
The proposed spending priorities reflect the administration’s focus on expanding road infrastructure, strengthening the education sector, improving healthcare services and supporting the operations of key state institutions.
Presenting the budget, Governor Fubara reiterated his administration’s commitment to delivering infrastructure projects and improving public services despite prevailing economic challenges, including rising inflation and higher project costs.
The presentation followed the House’s approval of the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which provides the fiscal assumptions and expenditure ceilings required before the annual appropriation bill is considered.
The appropriation bill has passed its first reading and will proceed to committee-level scrutiny before returning to the House for further legislative consideration.
If approved, the 2026 budget is expected to provide the funding framework for the state’s capital projects and public service programmes during the fiscal year. Its implementation will also be closely monitored by businesses, contractors and other stakeholders as Rivers State seeks to sustain economic activity through public-sector investment.
