Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has signed the state’s 2026 Appropriation Bill, valued at ₦1.84 trillion, into law, formally authorising the state government’s spending plan for the coming fiscal year.
The governor signed the appropriation bill on Thursday at a brief ceremony held inside the Executive Chambers of the Government House in Port Harcourt, completing the legislative process that preceded the budget’s enactment.
With the signing, the Rivers State Government can proceed with the implementation of the programmes and projects contained in the 2026 spending plan, following the consideration of proposals submitted by ministries, departments and agencies across the state.
Fubara used the occasion to reassure residents that the welfare of the people would remain a central consideration in the administration’s implementation of the budget.
The governor said his government would continue pursuing programmes and projects designed to improve living conditions across Rivers State, with the approved appropriation providing the financial framework for those activities during the 2026 fiscal year.
He also acknowledged the role played by the Rivers State House of Assembly in moving the budget through the legislative process.
Fubara commended the lawmakers for the speed with which they considered and passed the Appropriation Bill, while assuring the Assembly of his administration’s continued willingness to work with the legislative arm of government in the interest of the state.
The governor’s comments underscored the importance of cooperation between the executive and legislative branches in translating the approved spending plan into government programmes.
Earlier at the ceremony, the Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Major Jack, called on the executive to ensure that the newly approved budget was implemented effectively and prudently.
Jack stressed the need for the resources provided under the appropriation to be managed responsibly so that the people of Rivers State could derive the intended benefits from the government’s spending programme.
The call places emphasis not only on the size of the approved budget but also on how efficiently the funds are deployed once implementation begins.
The ₦1.84 trillion appropriation followed the review and consideration of spending proposals presented by ministries, departments and agencies of the Rivers State Government.
Those proposals formed the basis of the legislative consideration that eventually resulted in the passage of the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
Following its passage by the House of Assembly, the bill was presented to Governor Fubara for assent, which was granted during Thursday’s ceremony.
The signing therefore marks the transition from budget consideration and approval to implementation, with the executive now expected to execute the spending priorities authorised under the law.
Fubara’s administration has said its focus will remain on initiatives capable of improving the welfare and living conditions of residents, while the Assembly has urged careful management of the resources made available through the appropriation.
The governor also reiterated his commitment to maintaining cooperation with the lawmakers, describing collaboration between the two arms of government as necessary for advancing the interests of Rivers State.
For the Assembly, however, the passage of the budget is only one stage of the process. Major Jack’s call for effective and prudent implementation highlights the expectation that the approved funds should translate into the programmes and projects for which they were appropriated.
The 2026 budget was developed after the state’s ministries, departments and agencies submitted their respective spending proposals for consideration. Those submissions were subsequently reviewed as part of the legislative process before the bill was passed.
The signing ceremony in Port Harcourt thus formally gives legal effect to the ₦1.84 trillion spending plan and sets the stage for its execution by the Rivers State Government.
Governor Fubara said the administration would remain focused on its responsibility to the people, particularly through programmes and projects intended to improve their quality of life.
He also used the occasion to recognise the legislature’s role in the approval process and pledged continued cooperation between the executive and Assembly.
The emphasis now shifts from approval to delivery, with the implementation of the 2026 budget expected to determine how effectively the resources authorised by the law are converted into government programmes and projects for the benefit of Rivers residents.
Fubara Signs ₦1.84tn Rivers 2026 Budget Into Law
