Rivers Faces Budget Crisis As Fubara Comes Under Fire

Rivers State may be heading into a constitutional and financial crisis as concerns grow over the failure of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly, despite the expiration of the constitutional deadline for spending without a budget.

Although the House of Assembly has approved the 2026–2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), lawmakers are yet to receive the Appropriation Bill for consideration and passage as the second half of the year begins.

The MTEF was presented before the Assembly by Speaker Martin Amaewhule on June 25, raising expectations that the state would avoid a constitutional crisis linked to government spending.

Before then, concerns had mounted that the state government would lose the legal authority to spend money from its consolidated revenue after June 30, when the six-month constitutional grace period for operating without an approved budget expired.

The last budget for Rivers State was prepared during the six-month emergency administration led by retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.

That budget, which was approved by the National Assembly, expired on December 31, 2025. Under the Constitution, the state could continue spending for only six months into the new financial year while awaiting a fresh appropriation law.

When Governor Fubara later wrote to the Assembly seeking approval of the MTEF, many believed it marked the beginning of renewed cooperation between the executive and legislative arms after months of political disagreements.

Lawmakers reconvened on June 26 and approved the MTEF, although Speaker Amaewhule criticised the governor for submitting the document late.

Following the approval, expectations grew that Fubara would immediately present the 2026 Appropriation Bill, which had reportedly been approved by the State Executive Council in January.

The Executive Council had approved a ₦1.854 trillion budget tagged Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development on January 2. However, the governor was unable to present it after the Assembly insisted on examining the financial records of the executive arm before considering the proposal.

Despite the passage of the MTEF, no Appropriation Bill has been submitted to the Assembly, even after the constitutional grace period ended.

A source within the Assembly said lawmakers had completed their part by approving the MTEF and were now waiting for the governor to transmit the budget for legislative consideration.

The source maintained that the Speaker had already explained during plenary that the MTEF was submitted late by the governor and added that the Assembly acted quickly to prevent further delays.

According to the source, the governor should urgently send the budget because lawmakers still need time to examine and pass it.

However, another source within the executive arm disputed that claim, insisting the MTEF had been submitted to the Assembly long before it was eventually approved.

The source alleged that lawmakers delayed action on the document for reasons known only to them and suggested that this was why the date on the governor’s letter was not disclosed publicly.

According to the official, the governor had been waiting for legislative approval of the MTEF before presenting the Appropriation Bill and hoped the remaining issues would be resolved quickly.

Meanwhile, some stakeholders have warned that any further spending without an approved budget would violate the Constitution and could attract legal action.

Human rights lawyer and activist Chetam Thierry Nwaala argued that any expenditure by the Rivers State Government after June 30 without an appropriation law would be unconstitutional.

He explained that the state’s financial year runs from January 1 to December 31, while Section 122 of the Constitution only allows a government to spend for six months without a new budget.

According to him, the budget approved during the emergency administration expired at the end of December 2025, meaning the constitutional grace period ended on June 30, 2026.

Nwaala maintained that the Rivers State Government no longer has legal authority to spend public funds without a fresh appropriation law.

He added that all ministries, departments and agencies should not access state funds until a valid budget has been approved by the House of Assembly.

The lawyer warned that any government official involved in spending public funds without legal backing could face legal consequences.

He also disclosed that his organisation is preparing to approach the court to seek an order freezing Rivers State government accounts until a lawful budget is presented and passed.

According to him, budget approval is essential for transparency, accountability and the lawful management of public resources.

He added that if the governor had attempted to present the budget and the Assembly rejected it, such information should have been made public.

Nwaala insisted that, based on the available information, Rivers State cannot legally continue spending public funds without an approved Appropriation Law.