The Rivers State House of Assembly has finally begun formal legislative scrutiny of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s 2026 Appropriation Bill, more than six weeks after it was presented.
Governor Fubara laid the budget of over N1.8 trillion before the Assembly on July 10. On Tuesday, the Martin Amaewhule-led House gave the bill its second reading during plenary.
House Leader Major Jack moved the motion for the second reading. In the debate that followed, Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol described the proposal as ambitious and the largest budget ever presented in the state’s history.
He urged colleagues to carefully examine the various allocations to ensure funds are directed to the right priorities.Other lawmakers who contributed to the debate called for the budget to be passed without further delay.
Speaker Amaewhule, who presided over the sitting, stressed that the House must also look into non-governmental organisations and other institutions that have received funding or support from the state government. The House later adjourned until September 3.
In a statement, the Speaker’s Media Adviser, Martins Wachukwu, confirmed that the 2026 Appropriation Bill — titled “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development” — received its second reading after a robust debate on its major components during the 36th Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session.
Amaewhule noted that various House committees had already been examining different parts of the estimates since the governor presented the bill about six weeks earlier. He said the Assembly would carry out detailed legislative scrutiny and oversight to ensure appropriated funds are used judiciously.
He directed the committees to invite all ministries, departments and agencies under the House’s legislative purview for budget defence sessions.
Earlier in the debate, House Leader Jack focused on the revenue framework of the estimates, saying proper legislative input would help the budget deliver the rapid development it promises.
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