Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara is expected to present the state’s 2026 Appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly on Friday, a move seen as a major step toward resolving months of fiscal uncertainty in the state.
The budget presentation comes two weeks after the Assembly approved the 2026–2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which outlines the government’s projected revenue and spending plans over the next three years and serves as the basis for the annual budget.
Under the approved framework, the state is proposing a N1.84 trillion budget for 2026, comprising more than N400 billion in recurrent expenditure and over N1.4 trillion allocated to capital projects, reflecting the administration’s emphasis on infrastructure development.
Speaker Martin Amaewhule, while presenting the MTEF before lawmakers, praised the executive for producing what he described as a practical fiscal roadmap for the state over the next three years.
He, however, raised concerns about the revenue projections contained in the framework, arguing that they do not accurately reflect current economic realities, particularly in light of prevailing global crude oil prices.
The expected presentation of the 2026 budget has drawn considerable public interest after taking longer than anticipated to reach the Assembly. The delay sparked speculation among political observers, many of whom linked it to the prolonged face-off between the executive and legislative arms of government in Rivers State.
Once submitted, the appropriation bill will be subjected to legislative consideration before it can be passed into law and implemented.
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BACKSTORY:
The presentation of the 2026 budget comes against the backdrop of a prolonged political crisis in Rivers State that strained relations between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule. The dispute, rooted in a power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, disrupted legislative activities and delayed the consideration of key government business, including budget-related matters.
The crisis resulted in months of uncertainty over the state’s fiscal operations, with disagreements between the executive and legislature affecting governance. Efforts by political stakeholders and interventions at the national level were aimed at restoring cooperation between both arms of government.
The approval of the 2026–2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) by the Rivers State House of Assembly signalled a thaw in relations and paved the way for the presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill. Under Nigeria’s public finance framework, the MTEF provides the government’s medium-term revenue and expenditure projections and serves as the foundation for preparing the annual budget.
The planned presentation of the N1.84 trillion budget is therefore seen as an important step toward restoring normal budgetary processes and advancing the Fubara administration’s infrastructure and development agenda after months of political and fiscal uncertainty.
