Fubara, lawmakers battle stalls Rivers N1.85tn budget

The 2026 Appropriation Bill presented by Governor Siminalayi Fubara to the Rivers State House of Assembly has been stalled for over a month, despite facing little scrutiny from lawmakers. The budget, worth N1.854tn and dubbed the "Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development," was submitted to lawmakers on July 10, 2026. Initial concerns were raised due to the late submission, caused by a political crisis rocked the state.

However, there has been a lack of information about the budget defence or legislative proceedings, allowing lawmakers to review the proposal before passage.

Fresh agreements between the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly and the governor are believed to be the main reason for the delay in passing the budget. These agreements, aimed at resolving the political crisis, required Fubara to fulfil his side of the bargain, which has yet to happen. One of the major concerns is the N41.4bn allocation to the state House of Assembly, with some stakeholders defending the amount, arguing that the House needs adequate funding to function.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, held a press conference and alleged that Fubara had failed to fulfill almost all the agreements reached with the lawmakers and his "family". Wike reportedly stated that the governor has failed to release funds to the State Assembly Commission and provided cars for the lawmakers.