Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A cloud of uncertainty hangs over Rivers State as the 2026 Appropriation Bill, a staggering N1.854 trillion proposal, remains unpassed more than one month after Governor Siminalayi Fubara presented it to the State House of Assembly. The delay, sources say, is rooted in fresh agreements between the governor and the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly – agreements that have reportedly not been fulfilled, exposing the fragile nature of the political reconciliation that had briefly brought peace to one of Nigeria's most volatile states.
Governor Fubara presented the budget, christened the "Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development," to the Assembly on July 10, 2026. Speaker Martin Amaewhule, who had earlier criticised the governor over the late submission of the state's Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, nonetheless assured that the House would give the budget the attention it deserved. But more than a month later, the proposal has yet to be passed, while little has been disclosed publicly about budget defence sessions and other legislative processes relating to the appropriation bill.
The proposed budget provides for total expenditure of N1.854 trillion, with about N413.1 billion earmarked for recurrent expenditure and approximately N1.405 trillion planned for capital projects. Key sectoral allocations include Works and Infrastructure, N533.32 billion; Education, N315 billion; Healthcare, N105.43 billion; Power, N15 billion; Agriculture, N19.26 billion; and Youth Development, N7 billion. The Rivers State House of Assembly is allocated N41.44 billion, a figure that has sparked controversy, with some stakeholders calling it excessive while others have defended it.
The delay, according to sources familiar with developments in the Assembly, is linked to unresolved agreements between the governor and the lawmakers. One Assembly source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed the governor had yet to fulfil some of the commitments that paved the way for the budget presentation. "To resolve the lingering political crisis, the governor met with the lawmakers on his 2026 appropriation bill. They had an agreement, and the deal paved the way for the lawmakers to allow the governor to present his appropriation bill," the source said. "But the governor has not been able to fulfil the agreements".
According to the source, some of the issues involved lawmakers' benefits, entitlements and constituency projects. "The governor has not done anything for them since assuming office, and I think they expect him to pay most of their outstanding benefits, and he agreed to do so, but hasn't kept to his promise," the source alleged. Another source said the delay reflected lingering mistrust between the executive and legislature despite the political reconciliation. "The House of Assembly does not trust the governor because of a series of broken promises and unfulfilled agreements," the source said. "So, in any new agreement, they want the governor to satisfy his own side of the bargain first".
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has also weighed in, alleging that Fubara had failed to implement most of the agreements reached during the reconciliation process. During a recent media chat in Port Harcourt, Wike said, "I will tell you totally that the governor has failed 90 per cent of what they all agreed on". He cited the governor's failure to release funds to the State House of Assembly Service Commission and to provide agreed benefits. Wike, however, maintained that the budget would eventually be passed.
Efforts to obtain a response from Fubara's Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages went unanswered. The delay has raised concerns about the implementation of capital projects in the state, with some projects, including the multi-billion-naira Ring Road, reportedly progressing slowly or operating on a limited scale amid uncertainty over appropriated funding. As the standoff continues, the people of Rivers State are left to wonder when their leaders will put aside their differences and pass a budget that is essential for the state's development. The clock is ticking, and the stakes could not be higher.
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