By Our Correspondent
After weeks of waiting, the Rivers State House of Assembly has finally commenced consideration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s proposed ₦1.8 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill, bringing the state’s record budget a step closer to becoming law.
The development came during Tuesday’s plenary, when lawmakers gave the massive financial proposal its second reading following a robust debate on its major components.
Governor Fubara had presented the 2026 budget to the House on July 10, but the proposal remained pending for more than a month before lawmakers formally began the legislative process.
The budget, christened “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development,” is described by members of the Assembly as the largest budget ever proposed for Rivers State.
Moving the motion for the second reading, House Leader, Major Jack, urged his colleagues to carefully examine the proposal, particularly its revenue framework, to ensure that the projections are realistic and capable of supporting the state’s development agenda.
Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, described the budget as ambitious, noting that its enormous size reflects the administration’s plans for development across the state.
However, Maol stressed that the size of the appropriation alone would not determine its success. He called on lawmakers to scrutinise the various allocations and ensure that public funds are directed towards their intended purposes.
The Deputy Speaker’s position echoed a major concern surrounding public budgeting in Nigeria — the need to move beyond impressive figures on paper and ensure that approved funds translate into visible projects, improved services and tangible benefits for citizens.
Other lawmakers also called for the speedy passage of the bill, signalling the desire of the Assembly to conclude the legislative process and allow the government to commence full implementation of the 2026 spending plan.
Speaker Martin Amaewhule, who presided over the sitting, said the Assembly had not been idle since the budget was presented.
According to him, various committees of the House had spent the intervening weeks examining and dissecting different components of the proposal in preparation for detailed legislative scrutiny.
Amaewhule said the Assembly would intensify its oversight responsibilities to ensure that funds eventually appropriated are judiciously utilised.
As part of the next stage of the process, the Speaker directed the relevant committees to invite ministries, departments and agencies of the state government for budget defence sessions.
The budget defence sessions are expected to give government officials the opportunity to explain their proposed allocations, revenue expectations and planned programmes before the lawmakers.
The process could also provide an avenue for lawmakers to question agencies over their spending priorities and determine whether the proposed expenditure aligns with the needs of Rivers residents.
Beyond government ministries and agencies, the Speaker also indicated that the Assembly would examine non-governmental organisations and other institutions that have received funding or support from the state government.
The move is expected to strengthen scrutiny of public expenditure and provide lawmakers with a clearer picture of how government resources have been distributed.
For residents of Rivers State, the passage and eventual implementation of the budget could have significant implications for infrastructure, public services and economic activity across the state.
With a proposed spending envelope of more than ₦1.8 trillion, expectations are high that the government will translate the financial plan into meaningful development projects and programmes.
However, the Assembly’s detailed review will be crucial in determining whether the revenue assumptions and expenditure priorities contained in the proposal are achievable.
The delay in considering the budget also means that time will be an important factor. With the fiscal year already progressing, an extended legislative process could reduce the period available for implementation.
Lawmakers therefore face the delicate task of balancing the need for thorough scrutiny with the need to ensure that the state does not lose valuable implementation time.
The Assembly has now moved the proposal into a more detailed phase of legislative consideration. If the process proceeds smoothly, the relevant committees will scrutinise the allocations before the bill returns to the chamber for further consideration and eventual passage.
The House adjourned after Tuesday’s sitting and is expected to reconvene on Thursday, September 3, as the legislative process continues.
For the Fubara administration, the renewed movement on the budget offers an opportunity to turn months of political and legislative uncertainty into concrete action.
For the people of Rivers State, the expectation is simple: if ₦1.8 trillion is approved, the impact should be visible in roads, schools, healthcare, jobs, security, infrastructure and other areas that directly affect everyday life.
The coming weeks will therefore be closely watched as the Assembly subjects the record-breaking proposal to detailed scrutiny — and Rivers residents wait to see whether the “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development” will live up to its ambitious name.
