Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Thursday, September 3, signed the state’s 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, describing the development as a “breath of fresh air” and a sign of a new beginning in the relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government.
The signing, which took place at the State Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt, came shortly after the Rivers State House of Assembly passed the budget.
The budget, christened “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development,” carries a total estimate of ₦1.854 trillion, slightly adjusted from the proposal presented by Fubara to the legislature in July.
The governor had presented a fiscal estimate of ₦1,854,248,734,475.76, representing a 24.5 per cent increase over the revised 2025 budget.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Fubara expressed gratitude to God and all those who contributed to the passage of the appropriation bill, describing the development as the beginning of what he hoped would be a more harmonious working relationship with the Assembly.
“First of all, we want to thank the Almighty God for making this day a reality. I strongly believe that it is a breath of fresh air and a healthy relationship moving forward,” he said.
Fubara assured the people of Rivers State that his administration remained committed to the progress and development of the state and would implement the budget with their welfare as a priority.
“I want to assure you that our intention will still remain the progress and development of our dear state,” the governor said.
He also pledged a cordial and cooperative relationship with the legislature and other stakeholders, in what appears to mark a significant shift in the political atmosphere surrounding governance in the state.
The governor gave special recognition to his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for what he described as his role in facilitating the meeting and process that led to the passage and signing of the budget.
“Let me also thank our leader, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief (Barr.) Nyesom Wike, for facilitating this meeting and this process that we are all signing into,” Fubara said.
The acknowledgement is particularly significant given the long-running political tensions between Fubara and Wike, which have shaped political developments in Rivers State in recent years.
The governor also commended members of the House of Assembly for their diligence and speed in considering the appropriation bill.
But the legislature did not approve the budget exactly as presented by the governor.
Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, disclosed that lawmakers reviewed some provisions after scrutinising the estimates and reduced the proposed ₦6 billion allocation to PAMO University of Medical Sciences, a private university that has benefited from Rivers State government scholarships.
According to Amaewhule, the decision followed the failure of the institution’s management to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the utilisation of funds and its failure to send representatives to appear before the Assembly.
He said part of the funds removed from the PAMO allocation was reassigned to the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Development Board.
Amaewhule described the adjustment as part of the legislature’s oversight responsibility to ensure accountability and transparency in the management of public resources.
Despite the adjustments, the Speaker commended the governor for the provisions contained in the budget, saying they indicated the administration’s preparedness to deliver democratic dividends to Rivers people.
“We took time to look at the budget and from what we saw, we want to tell you that it shows that you are willing to move forward and ensure that this democracy is actually what will get to Rivers people,” he said.
Earlier, the Majority Leader of the House, Major Jack, presented the appropriation bill to the governor for assent.
Jack described the budget as ambitious and said lawmakers had subjected it to thorough scrutiny in the interest of the state.
“It is the expectation of the Honourable Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly that this budget will usher in the desired growth and development of the state,” he said.
With the governor’s assent, the 2026 appropriation is now the legal framework for the state’s spending and development programmes for the fiscal year.
The ceremony was attended by members of the State Executive Council, principal officers of the House of Assembly and other government functionaries.
For Fubara, however, the significance of the occasion goes beyond the signing of another annual spending plan. His description of the development as a “breath of fresh air” points to the expectation that the budget could also usher in a period of greater political accommodation and cooperation between the executive and legislature after years of turbulence in Rivers State.
Emmanuel Obe
WhatsApp us
Comments