The Rivers State Executive Council has approved a ₦1.85 trillion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year, signaling the state government’s spending priorities amid lingering economic pressures and rising development needs.
The approval followed a council meeting presided over by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, according to disclosures by state officials after the session, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The council’s decision came after an extensive review of the proposed spending framework, which details both capital and recurrent expenditures for the 2026 fiscal period.
With the executive approval secured, the budget proposal will be forwarded to the Rivers State House of Assembly for legislative consideration and possible passage into law.
Briefing journalists in Port Harcourt, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic Matters, Prof. Peter Medee, said the ₦1.85 trillion budget is designed to consolidate ongoing development efforts across the state, with a strong focus on completing existing projects rather than initiating numerous new ones.
According to him, the proposed spending plan will address outstanding obligations in key sectors such as infrastructure, health, and education, while also giving attention to agriculture, youth empowerment, culture, tourism, and information and communications technology (ICT). He noted that these sectors were deliberately prioritized to stimulate economic activity, create jobs, and improve living standards.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communications, Mr. Honour Sirawoo, said the executive council subjected the proposal to scrutiny to ensure value for money. He explained that the approved figures were deliberately structured to enhance public welfare and deliver measurable benefits to residents of the state.
If approved by the House of Assembly, the ₦1.85 trillion budget is expected to play a significant role in driving economic growth, completing stalled projects, and improving public service delivery across Rivers State. The emphasis on infrastructure, social services, and productive sectors such as agriculture and ICT suggests a policy direction aimed at boosting growth while addressing unemployment and social welfare challenges.
However, analysts note that the success of the budget will depend largely on the state’s revenue performance, fiscal discipline, and the government’s capacity to translate budgetary allocations into tangible outcomes for citizens.
The 2026 proposal represents a sharp increase from the ₦1.1 trillion budget signed into law in January 2025 by Governor Fubara. The 2025 budget was structured with ₦462.25 billion for recurrent expenditure, ₦678.09 billion for capital expenditure, a planning reserve of ₦35.69 billion, and a closing balance of ₦12.93 billion.
The governor had disclosed that the budget would be financed through multiple revenue sources, including Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations, internally generated revenue (IGR), statutory allocations, mineral funds, value-added tax (VAT), and various refunds.
The 2025 fiscal year was, however, marked by political tension, as lawmakers allegedly barred Governor Fubara from accessing the House of Assembly to re-present the 2025 budget. At the time, the governor expressed frustration, saying he had formally communicated with the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, and made several attempts to engage lawmakers without success.
As Rivers State prepares for the 2026 budget process, attention will be on legislative deliberations and whether the proposed spending plan can navigate both economic constraints and political dynamics to deliver on its stated development goals.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Rivers State’s proposed ₦1.85 trillion 2026 budget underscores the government’s focus on completing ongoing projects and prioritizing key sectors such as infrastructure, health, education, agriculture, and ICT, with its success hinging on legislative approval, strong revenue performance, and effective implementation.
