Rivers Speaker Amaewhule Criticizes Fubara for Delayed 2026 Budget Framework Presentation

Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker Martin Amaewhule criticized Governor Siminalayi Fubara for the delayed submission of the state's 2026–2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

According to a statement from his media aide, Martins Wachukwu, the Speaker said the document was presented well after the legally mandated deadline.

He noted that the fiscal responsibility law requires the framework to be submitted much earlier, yet it was only forwarded when the year was already well into progress.

Fubara submitted the 2026–2028 MTEF to the Assembly on Thursday.

Despite the delay, the Speaker said the Assembly chose to approve the document to serve the state's interests and prevent additional setbacks in the budget process.

The Assembly approved the framework during a Friday plenary session, less than 24 hours after it was presented and read to lawmakers.

Amaewhule cited Section 10(1)(b) of the Rivers State Fiscal Responsibility Law No. 8 of 2010, which states that the MTEF must be presented to the House in September, four months before the next fiscal year begins.

He added that Governor Fubara did not meet that legal deadline, causing a significant delay in the budget planning process.

He said, “The presentation was late. However, in the state's interest, the House decided it was expedient to consider the document, which precedes the 2026 Budget Estimate, even though the year is already halfway through.”