By Precious Amadi
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has presented a ₦1.8 trillion appropriation bill for the 2026 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly.
Tagged the “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development,” the fiscal proposal aims to drive human capital development, improve citizen welfare, and stimulate socio-economic prosperity across the state. Governor Fubara assured lawmakers that the budget would be fully implemented once passed, despite its presentation arriving nearly seven months into the fiscal year.
A major share of the budget is directed toward infrastructure and social services, with capital expenditure accounting for ₦1.4 trillion of the total package.
The sector breakdown includes:
Works and Infrastructure: ₦533.2 billion (highest allocation)
Education: ₦350 billion
Healthcare: ₦105.4 billion
Rivers State House of Assembly: ₦41.4 billion
Judiciary: ₦30 billion
Agriculture: ₦19.2 billion
Power: ₦15 billion
Chieftaincy and Community Development: ₦8.5 billion
Sports: ₦7.9 billion
Youth Development: ₦7 billion
Environment and Sustainable Development: ₦6.8 billion
Women Affairs: ₦6.5 billion
Responding to the presentation, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, promised a swift legislative review. Amaewhule emphasized that citizen welfare remains the legislature’s top priority and committed to giving the bill immediate attention to help improve living standards.
The 2026 Appropriation Bill has successfully passed its first reading on the floor of the House.
