Breaking News: Fresh Agreement Between Wike, Assembly Members and Fubara Delays Passage of Rivers BudgetThe passage of the Rivers State 2026 Appropriation Bill has reportedly been delayed by fresh agreements reached between members of the State House of Assembly and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
More than a month after the governor presented the ₦1.854 trillion proposal—christened the “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development”—to the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly on July 10, 2026, the bill remains unpassed. Little has been disclosed publicly about budget defence sessions or other legislative processes relating to the appropriation bill.Sources familiar with developments in the Assembly said lawmakers reached the fresh agreements with Fubara before allowing him to present the budget, following months of political crisis in the state. One anonymous Assembly source told reporters that the deal paved the way for the presentation, but claimed the governor had yet to fulfil some of the commitments.“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,” the source said. “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.” When Fubara laid the estimates before the House, Speaker Martin Amaewhule expressed concern over the late presentation but assured that lawmakers would give the proposal the attention it deserved in the interest of the state. The budget represents a 24.49 percent increase over the adjusted 2025 figures, driven by projected growth in FAAC allocations, derivation revenue, and internally generated revenue.
It earmarks approximately ₦413.1 billion for recurrent expenditure and ₦1.405 trillion for capital projects, with major allocations to works and infrastructure (₦533.32 billion), education (₦315 billion), and healthcare (₦105.43 billion).As of August 12, 2026, there has been no official indication from the Assembly on when the 2026 Appropriation Bill will be considered and passed.
Joseph Akwagiobe is a media contributor from Cross River State, Nigeria, currently based in Abuja. He is a graduate of Microbiology and has earned several professional certifications across diverse fields, reflecting his commitment to continuous learning, professional growth, and excellence.