Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Friday presented a proposed N1.854 trillion budget for the 2026 fiscal year to the Rivers State House of Assembly, with the lion’s share of the spending plan dedicated to capital projects aimed at infrastructure development, education, healthcare and economic growth.
Tagged “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development,” the appropriation bill projects a total expenditure of N1,854,248,734,475.76, comprising N413.1 billion for recurrent expenditure and N1.405 trillion for capital expenditure.
The budget presentation came two weeks after the House approved the state’s 2026-2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which serves as the fiscal blueprint for the next three years.
Breaking down the proposed spending, Fubara allocated N625.85 billion to the economic sector, representing the largest share of the capital budget, while the social sector received N435.41 billion. The administration sector was allocated N278.75 billion, while law and justice got N65.26 billion.
Among the major capital allocations, works and infrastructure received the highest vote of N533.32 billion, followed by education with N315 billion and healthcare delivery with N105.43 billion.
The governor also proposed N41.44 billion for the Rivers State House of Assembly, N30 billion for the judiciary, N19.26 billion for agriculture, N15 billion for power, N8.5 billion for chieftaincy and community development, N7.98 billion for sports, N7 billion for youth development, N6.5 billion for women affairs and N6.61 billion for environment and sustainable development.
On recurrent expenditure, the budget provides N154.77 billion for personnel costs, N15.22 billion for new recruitment, N55.1 billion for monthly pensions, N20 billion each for gratuities and legacy pension gratuities, N7 billion for death benefits, N36.71 billion for overheads across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), and N9.76 billion for grants, contributions and subsidies.
