Rivers N1.85tn Budget Stalled as Fubara, Lawmakers Clash Over Agreements

Insights have come to light regarding the prolonged delay in the enactment of the 2026 Appropriation Bill, which Governor Siminalayi Fubara presented to the Rivers State House of Assembly over a month ago. Our correspondent's enquiries indicate that new understandings between the Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, and the state governor are primarily responsible for the budget's hold-up, with minimal public discourse surrounding the financial proposal.

It is worth noting that Governor Fubara had on July 10, 2026, submitted an appropriation bill totaling N1.854tn, aptly named the “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development,” for the Assembly's deliberation and approval. Upon receiving the budget, the Speaker, while expressing reservations about its late submission, assured the public that the legislative body would accord the proposal the necessary attention for the state's benefit. The extended delay has fueled apprehension, particularly since the budget’s late presentation was already a consequence of the ongoing political turbulence within the state. Furthermore, there has been scant information concerning budget defence sessions or other legislative processes typically undertaken to thoroughly examine such proposals before their eventual passage.

Our investigations also revealed that several state projects, including the colossal Ring Road initiative, are either facing non-execution or are progressing at a significantly reduced pace, ostensibly due to insufficient appropriated funds. Meanwhile, the proposed N41.4bn allocation for the State House of Assembly has drawn considerable criticism. While some stakeholders and citizens deem this amount excessive, a minority have defended it, arguing that the House requires robust funding to effectively discharge its duties.

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, provided a hint at the underlying cause of the delay during a special media interaction in Port Harcourt last Tuesday. He alleged that his successor, Governor Fubara, had failed to honour nearly all the agreements reached with the lawmakers and what he termed “the family.” Specifically, Wike claimed the governor had neglected to fund the State House of Assembly Service Commission, among other commitments. He elaborated:

“The issue of budget, I know why you asked because you expected that once the budget is presented today, it will be passed tomorrow. Remember it won’t be that easy. But at the end of the day, the budget will be passed. This is why I tell people, yes, they have settled, but you see, do we just do it? Those things you expect them to do, but at the end of the day the budget will be passed and sent to the governor for his assent. I will tell you totally that the governor has failed 90 per cent of what they all agreed on. Take, for example, he did not release funds to the State Assembly Commission and the rest of them. Cars were not provided. If the governor did not want to work with us, the governor would be okay, I’m the governor, and I will join the other party, which is also very dangerous. Or I will stay and betray, which is also very dangerous. There is no way you can play it. Therefore, it’s better, and it’s good for the interest of the state to work with the family. It’s all over the world.”

Sources indicate that the lawmakers, driven by what they described as goodwill and a commitment to the state's welfare, had reached certain undisclosed agreements with the governor before permitting the belated presentation of the appropriation bill. Many stakeholders expressed disappointment that the bill, which they anticipated would be swiftly considered and passed to avert a looming constitutional crisis, has now been held up for over a month. An anonymous Assembly insider confirmed that fresh agreements between Governor Fubara and the legislators are indeed the cause of the hold-up.

“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. But the governor has not been able to fulfil the agreements. Nobody forced him to enter into the agreement, which the lawmakers know is within his capacity to fulfil. Instead of doing it once, he is doing it in piecemeal,” the source revealed. When pressed for details on the new agreement’s specifics, the source simply responded, “I don’t have details of all of them. But some of them have to do with the lawmakers’ benefits and entitlements, especially their 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 further stressed that a prevailing lack of mutual trust between the governor and the lawmakers, stemming from a succession of unfulfilled pledges and disregarded agreements, has significantly contributed to the bill's delay.