Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has presented a proposed N1.854 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill, tagged the “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development,“ to the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The budget outlines an ambitious spending plan aimed at accelerating infrastructure renewal, strengthening education and healthcare, expanding the economy and improving residents’ welfare.
Presenting the budget before lawmakers, Governor Fubara described the proposal as a roadmap for building a more resilient, prosperous and inclusive Rivers State through sustained investment in critical sectors despite prevailing political and economic challenges.
The governor said the proposed expenditure of N1,854,248,734,475.76 represents a 24.49 per cent increase over the adjusted 2025 budget.
He attributed the projected growth to expected increases in allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), higher internally generated revenue and improved derivation earnings.
Fubara said his administration had maintained fiscal discipline and financial stability through prudent management of public resources, insisting that transparency, accountability and responsible spending remained the guiding principles of his government.
According to him, the state’s projected revenue comprises N487.61 billion from internally generated revenue, N936.05 billion from FAAC allocations, including derivation, Value Added Tax and exchange gains, N48.11 billion from opening and closing balances, and N382.48 billion from capital receipts, including domestic loans, grants and asset sales.
The governor proposed N413.11 billion for recurrent expenditure and N1.405 trillion for capital projects, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to development-driven spending.
He disclosed that N154.77 billion had been earmarked for personnel costs, while N15.22 billion would fund fresh recruitment into the public service. Other recurrent allocations include N55.10 billion for pensions, N20 billion each for gratuities and legacy pension liabilities, N7 billion for death benefits and N36.71 billion for overhead costs.
To improve the efficiency of government institutions, Fubara announced a 50 per cent increase in overhead allocations to ministries, departments and agencies upon passage of the budget. He also pledged to clear outstanding gratuities and death benefits owed to retired civil servants, describing the settlement of inherited liabilities as a priority.
Infrastructure received the largest allocation under the capital budget, with N533.32 billion earmarked for works and infrastructure projects. The education sector is expected to receive N315 billion, while N105.43 billion was allocated to healthcare.
Other major allocations include N41.44 billion for the Rivers State House of Assembly, N30 billion for the judiciary, N19.26 billion for agriculture, N15 billion for power, N8.5 billion for chieftaincy and community development, N7.98 billion for sports, N7 billion for youth development, N6.5 billion for women affairs and N6.61 billion for environmental sustainability.
The governor said the budget would finance new infrastructure projects, complete ongoing road construction, maintain existing roads and bridges, strengthen educational institutions and expand social investment programmes aimed at improving the standard of living of Rivers people.
Acknowledging the delay in presenting the appropriation bill, Fubara assured lawmakers that implementation would be transparent, accountable and results-driven. He appealed to members of the House of Assembly to set aside political differences and expedite the consideration and passage of the bill in the overall interest of the state.
He stressed that the collective welfare of Rivers people should take precedence over partisan interests, adding that every public fund must be channelled to projects that would deliver the greatest benefit to citizens.
The governor subsequently laid the 2026 Appropriation Bill before the Rivers State House of Assembly for legislative consideration and approval.
