The Rivers State House of Assembly has passed the state’s 2026 Appropriation Bill for second reading, paving the way for further scrutiny of the proposed budget.
The development occurred during the 36th Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Assembly on Tuesday, where lawmakers debated the key components of the proposed fiscal plan.
The bill, titled the “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development,” was presented to the Assembly by Governor Siminalayi Fubara about six weeks ago.
Since its presentation, various committees of the House have been reviewing the budget estimates and examining the proposed allocations to ministries, departments and agencies across the state.
Speaking during the sitting, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, assured residents that the legislature would subject the budget to thorough scrutiny before its eventual passage.
Amaewhule said the Assembly would ensure that public funds appropriated for development were properly utilised, stressing the importance of effective legislative oversight.
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He consequently directed the various committees of the House to invite Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) within their respective jurisdictions to appear before them for budget defence.
Leading the debate on the bill earlier, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Major Jack, focused on the proposed revenue framework.
Jack stressed the importance of legislative input in reviewing and refining the government’s fiscal proposals, noting that a properly scrutinised budget would contribute to accelerated development across the state.
With the bill now advancing to the committee stage, the various committees are expected to commence detailed engagements with MDAs as part of the budget defence process.
The exercise is expected to allow lawmakers to examine the proposed allocations, revenue projections and spending plans before the Assembly takes further legislative action on the 2026 Rivers State budget.
