The Rivers State House of Assembly has moved into the next phase of consideration for Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s 2026 Appropriation Bill, committing the proposed ‘Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development’ to its committees for detailed scrutiny.
 
The decision followed the second reading of the bill at the Assembly’s 36th Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session yesterday, where lawmakers subjected key components of the proposed fiscal plan to debate.
 
The move effectively shifts attention from the broad policy direction of the budget to the finer details of how government intends to raise and spend public funds in 2026.
 
Fubara had presented the appropriation bill to the House about six weeks ago, after which the various committees commenced examination of its components.
 
Speaker Martin Amaewhule said the period had allowed the committees to begin dissecting the estimates, stressing that the Assembly would not treat the appropriation process as a mere formality.
 
He said lawmakers would undertake detailed legislative scrutiny and oversight to ensure that money appropriated by the House was ultimately applied to the purposes for which it was approved.
 
Amaewhule consequently directed the relevant committees to summon Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) within the legislative competence of the Assembly for budget defence sessions.
 
The directive is expected to put the MDAs under closer scrutiny as lawmakers examine their proposed allocations, programmes, projects and revenue expectations.
 
The Majority Leader, Major Jack, had earlier led the debate on the bill, drawing particular attention to its revenue framework. Jack argued that appropriate legislative input into the budget would strengthen its capacity to deliver on its objectives and accelerate development across the state.

Meanwhile, ahead of the 2027 elections, the Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Major Jack, has emerged as the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The party’s Publicity Secretary, Ikenga Chibike, confirmed the development to newsmen yesterday. With the latest development, Jack will serve as the running mate to the party’s governorship candidate, Kingsley Ogundu Chinda.
 
Chinda emerged as the governorship candidate of the ruling party after the primary election was held in May 2026. The choice of Jack was said to be part of efforts to achieve geographical balance on the ticket and strengthen the party’s grassroots support, particularly in the riverine areas of the state.