Revelations have emerged as to why the 2026 Appropriation Bill submitted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara to the Rivers State House of Assembly has not been passed into law, one month after the lawmakers received it.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that fresh agreements between the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly and the governor are the major reason for the delay in passing the budget, even as little has been heard about the proposal.
Recall that Fubara presented an appropriation bill of N1.854tn, christened the “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development,” to the Assembly for consideration and approval on July 10, 2026.
Receiving the budget from the governor, the Speaker 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 delay has raised concerns, especially as the budget was presented late due to the lingering political crisis that rocked the state.
Also, there has been little information about the budget defence or other legislative proceedings expected to allow lawmakers to scrutinise the proposal before its passage.
Investigation by our correspondent showed that some projects across the state, including the multi-billion-naira Ring Road, are either not being executed or are being carried out on a limited scale, apparently due to the lack of appropriated funds.
However, criticisms have trailed the proposed N41.4bn allocation to the state House of Assembly, with some stakeholders and residents saying the amount is too high, while a few have defended the allocation because the House requires adequate funding to carry out its functions.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, while responding to questions from journalists during a special media chat in Port Harcourt last Tuesday, hinted at the reason for the delay, alleging that his successor, Fubara, had failed to fulfil almost all the agreements reached with the lawmakers and those he described as “the family.”
He specifically alleged that the governor had refused to fund the state House of Assembly Service Commission, among other obligations.
Wike stated, “The issue of budget, I know why you asked because you expected that once the budget is presented today, it will be passed tomorrow.
“Remember it won’t be that easy. But at the end of the day, the budget will be passed.
“This is why I tell people, yes, they have settled, but you see, do we just do it? Those things you expect them to do, but at the end of the day the budget will be passed and sent to the governor for his assent.
“I will tell you totally that the governor has failed 90 per cent of what they all agreed on.
