Fubara Submits 2026–2028 Spending Plan as Rivers Assembly Reconvenes After Three-Month Hiatus

Governor Siminalayi Fubara has forwarded Rivers State's 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to the State House of Assembly, as lawmakers reconvened for their first plenary session in more than three months.

The fiscal framework was formally received during an emergency sitting of the Assembly held on Thursday at the lawmakers legislative quarters along Aba Road in Port Harcourt.

Speaker Martin Amaewhule read the governor's correspondence conveying the submission of the three-year expenditure framework, marking a significant development in the state's budget preparation process and a possible restart of legislative activities after months of inactivity.

The Medium-Term Expenditure Framework serves as the foundation for annual budget preparation, outlining government revenue projections, expenditure priorities and fiscal policies over a three-year period.

First Sitting Since March

Thursday's session was the first plenary sitting of the Rivers State House of Assembly since March 2026.

The Assembly had last convened to screen commissioner nominees submitted by Governor Fubara. During that exercise, lawmakers approved some nominees but rejected four others.

Since then, legislative activities had remained largely dormant, fueling speculation over the future of relations between the executive and legislative arms of government in the state.

The reconvening of the Assembly comes amid increasing calls for the governor to formally begin the process of presenting the state's 2026 budget estimates.

Key Step Towards 2026 Budget

The submission of the 2026–2028 MTEF is a statutory requirement under Nigeria's fiscal planning framework and typically precedes the presentation of a full budget proposal.

The document provides a medium-term roadmap for government spending, expected revenue streams and economic assumptions that guide budget implementation over multiple years.

By forwarding the framework to lawmakers, the Fubara administration has initiated one of the critical stages in preparing the state's 2026 appropriation bill.

Once reviewed and considered by the Assembly, the framework is expected to serve as the basis for detailed budget proposals for the coming fiscal year.

Political Significance

Beyond its fiscal importance, the development is being viewed as a notable political signal in Rivers State, where relations between the executive and the Assembly have attracted national attention in recent months.

The emergency sitting and receipt of the expenditure framework suggest a renewed channel of engagement between the governor and lawmakers as the state prepares for its next budget cycle.

Although Thursday's plenary focused primarily on the presentation of the fiscal framework, political observers will be watching closely to see whether the development translates into a broader resumption of legislative activities and cooperation between both arms of government.

Further deliberations on the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework are expected in the coming weeks as lawmakers begin consideration of the document ahead of the 2026 budget process.