Rivers Assembly leader criticizes Fubara for delayed budget submission

Alleging a nine-month delay, Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker Martin Amaewhule criticized Governor Siminalayi Fubara for submitting the state's 2026-2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework, which was supposed to be presented according to a legally prescribed timeline.

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Despite this, the House approved the spending framework on Friday during plenary, just 24 hours after it was read on the floor, in the interest of the state.

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The approval was based on a document that was supposed to be laid before the House in September 2025, as stipulated in Section 10(1)(b) of the Rivers State Fiscal Responsibility Law No. 8 of 2010, four months prior to the start of the next financial year.

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In a statement issued by the Speaker's media aide, Martins Wachukwu, Amaewhule explained that the House decided to consider the document, a precursor to the State's 2026 Budget Estimate, despite the year being already half gone, in the interest of the state.

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After scrutinizing the assumptions in the MTEF, lawmakers concluded that proper implementation would serve the interest of Rivers people, leading the Speaker to put the question to a vote, which members approved.

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On the same day, the House received a petition from Obio/Akpor Local Government Council Chairman, Dr Gift Worlu, regarding an alleged imminent security breach and threats to lives and property in the area, presented through Hon. Emilia Amadi, member representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II.

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Amadi urged the House to revisit the matter and take necessary steps to safeguard lives and property in the affected communities, presenting the petition on Friday.

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The Assembly had last sat in February, when it screened commissioner nominees forwarded by the governor, before adjourning indefinitely, and reconvened on Thursday after approximately three months.