Controversy has  trailed the removal of a proposed N6 billion allocation for Rivers State indigenes studying at PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, from the state’s 2026 budget, as parents and stakeholders appeal to the Rivers State House of Assembly to reconsider the decision.

The development has assumed a legal dimension, with PAMO University threatening to sue the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, over alleged false and defamatory statements concerning the institution’s management of funds provided under the state government’s scholarship programme.

The controversy followed comments by Amaewhule during the presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Act to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for assent, in which he said the House had scrutinised the proposed N6 billion allocation to PAMO and raised concerns about the transparency and utilisation of previous funds.

The allocation was subsequently removed from the 2026 budget. The Speaker later disclosed during the governor’s signing of the budget into law that part of the money had been reallocated to the renovation of a facility belonging to the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board.

However, PAMO University, through its lawyer, Ayodeji Adedipe, rejected the Speaker’s allegations, insisting that it had never been invited by the Rivers State House of Assembly or any other government body to account for or defend funds released under the scholarship programme.

According to the university’s lawyer, PAMO had, from the commencement of the scholarship scheme, applied the funds strictly for the education and training of Rivers State beneficiaries.

Adedipe said the statements attributed to the Speaker had damaged the reputation and integrity of the university and demanded an immediate retraction and apology within 24 hours of receipt of the demand.

He warned that failure by the Speaker to comply would result in legal action against him by the university.

The controversy has meanwhile sparked appeals from parents, former beneficiaries and other stakeholders who fear that the budgetary decision could affect students already enrolled at the institution under the Rivers State Government scholarship programme.

One of the appeals, signed by Amaopusenibo Sody Peterside, urged the Speaker to reconsider the decision and, if the government had resolved to discontinue the programme, allow existing beneficiaries to complete their studies.

“This is a humanitarian appeal and request,” Peterside said, appealing to Amaewhule to “phase it out until the current beneficiaries graduate if you believe that the programme is not in the interest of Rivers people.”

He warned that students should not be made to suffer the consequences of disagreements among political actors.

The scholarship programme dates back to 2018, when the administration of former Governor Nyesom Wike entered into an arrangement with PAMO University to train Rivers State indigenes in medical and allied disciplines.

According to information previously published by the National Universities Commission (NUC), the initial arrangement involved 500 Rivers State students.

The programme was subsequently continued under Governor Fubara, with the Rivers State Government awarding scholarships to additional students, including a reported 150 beneficiaries in one of the later rounds.

Stakeholders opposed to the removal of the allocation argue that the programme should be distinguished from any political disagreement involving the founder of PAMO University, former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili.

They contend that government payments to the university should be viewed as payment for educational services provided to scholarship beneficiaries rather than as personal financial grants to its founder.

A stakeholder, Ola Le Kan, also argued that the state needs additional capacity to train medical professionals, noting that the University of Port Harcourt and Rivers State University cannot admit every Rivers indigene seeking to study medicine.

According to him, medical training quotas approved by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria provide 300 places for Rivers State University, 150 for the University of Port Harcourt and 200 for PAMO University.

He further noted that the council had approved PAMO Teaching Hospital to train up to 20 resident medical doctors at a time.

Le Kan appealed to the Assembly to resolve any outstanding issues surrounding the allocation without jeopardising the education of Rivers students.

Also, Precious Umasoye Macforex, urged the Assembly to strike a balance between accountability and the protection of students already benefiting from the scholarship scheme.

Macforex argued that if there were concerns about the management of previous allocations, the appropriate response would be an audit or investigation rather than the abrupt withdrawal of funding for students.

“If there are legitimate concerns regarding accountability, implementation, transparency or oversight surrounding any proposed allocation, such concerns can and should be addressed through appropriate legislative mechanisms,” the appeal stated.

The author also urged the Assembly to ensure that students who had already been awarded scholarships were allowed to complete their programmes.

The debate has also generated allegations that the removal of the allocation may be linked to the longstanding political disagreements among prominent Rivers political actors.

PAMO University was founded by former Governor Peter Odili, while the scholarship programme was initiated during the administration of former Governor Nyesom Wike. Wike is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

The political rivalry involving Odili, Wike and the administration of Governor Fubara has, over the years, generated intense controversy in Rivers State.

Some stakeholders have consequently questioned whether the budgetary decision is solely about accountability or has been influenced by the broader political environment.

However, the Rivers State House of Assembly has maintained that its concern is with accountability and the proper utilisation of public funds.

The concern now is whether the Assembly can resolve its concerns over financial accountability without jeopardising the education of students already admitted under the scholarship scheme.

For parents and students, the immediate fear is that those currently enrolled at PAMO University could be forced to abandon their studies if government funding is discontinued.

For the university, however, the dispute has evolved into a battle over institutional reputation, following allegations it considers false and defamatory, with the threat of litigation now hanging over the Speaker.

The controversy has consequently placed the Rivers State Government and the Assembly in a delicate balancing act: enforcing accountability in the management of public funds without sacrificing the education of beneficiaries who depend on government sponsorship.

Stakeholders have therefore called for dialogue, an independent audit and appropriate oversight mechanisms to resolve the dispute, warning that Rivers students must not become casualties of a political or institutional face-off.