Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has presented the 2026 budget proposal before the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly.
Fubara, on Friday, presented N1.854 trillion Appropriation Bill before the legislative chamber in Port Harcourt.
This marked his first appearance before the Assembly under the leadership of its Speaker, Amaewhule.
According to reports, the session commenced with a motion to receive the governor which was moved by the Majority Leader, Major Jack.
The motion was seconded by the Minority Leader, Sylvanus Nwankwo, before Fubara entered to formally present the bill.
Presenting the estimates tagged “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development”, Fubara said the proposal was designed to sustain economic growth, strengthen infrastructure, improve human capital development and enhance social investments across the state.
The governor projected total revenue of N1.854 trillion for the 2026 fiscal year, representing a 24.49 per cent increase over the adjusted 2025 budget.
He attributed the expected growth to higher receipts from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), derivation funds, and internally generated revenue.
As contained in the proposal, N413.1 billion is earmarked for recurrent expenditure, while N1.405 trillion is allocated to capital projects.
The capital allocation includes N533.3 billion for works and infrastructure, N315 billion for education, and N105.4 billion for healthcare.
Others include N41.4 billion for the Rivers State House of Assembly, N30 billion for the judiciary and N19.3 billion for agriculture, among other sectors.
Fubara also announced plans to increase overhead allocations to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) by at least 50 per cent and clear outstanding gratuities and death benefits owed to retired civil servants.
In his remark after receiving the bill, Amaewhule subjected it to immediate scrutiny before addressing the governor directly on behalf of the House.
“Let me assure you on behalf of the members that we will give due consideration to your budget proposals,
“Our state has to grow, and all hands have to be on deck for the growth of Rivers State,” Amaewhule said, before concluding on a note of collective resolve.
“We are willing to do all that is needed as an assembly so our people can smile again.” He added.
The 2026 Appropriations Bill subsequently passed its first reading.
The plenary was thereafter adjourned to July 20.