Amaewhule Criticizes Fubara Over Delayed 2026 Budget Framework Submission
Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, has criticized Governor Siminalayi Fubara over what he described as the late submission of the state’s 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), saying the action fell short of the timeline prescribed by the Rivers State Fiscal Responsibility Law.
Amaewhule made the remarks after the House approved the three-year fiscal framework, which serves as the foundation for the preparation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill. He noted that although lawmakers considered and passed the document in the interest of the state, its submission came several months behind schedule.
According to the Speaker, the Rivers State Fiscal Responsibility Law requires the executive arm to present the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework to the House in September, at least four months before the commencement of the next financial year. He argued that the governor’s delayed action disrupted the state’s budget planning process and undermined established fiscal procedures.
Despite the concerns, Amaewhule explained that the Assembly approved the framework to prevent further delays in the preparation and passage of the 2026 budget, emphasizing that the state’s development should not be stalled by procedural setbacks.
The Medium-Term Expenditure Framework outlines the government’s projected revenue, expenditure plans, and macroeconomic assumptions over a three-year period. It is regarded as a statutory fiscal document that provides the basis for annual budget preparation and implementation.
The approval of the MTEF now clears the way for Governor Fubara to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the Rivers State House of Assembly for legislative consideration.
The latest development comes amid ongoing political tensions between the executive and the legislature in Rivers State, with both arms of government continuing to differ over constitutional and administrative matters affecting governance in the state.
