The Rivers State Executive Council has approved a N1.85 trillion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year, outlining the state government’s spending priorities amid prevailing economic challenges.
The approval followed a meeting of the council presided over by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, according to disclosures by state officials and reports by the News Agency of Nigeria.
The spending framework, which covers both capital and recurrent expenditures for the 2026 fiscal period, was reviewed and endorsed by the council at the meeting. The proposed budget will now be forwarded to the Rivers State House of Assembly for legislative consideration and approval.
Briefing journalists in Port Harcourt, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic Matters, Prof. Peter Medee, said the ₦1.85 trillion proposal would focus largely on completing ongoing projects across the state.
He explained that the budget would address outstanding obligations in key sectors such as infrastructure, health and education, while also giving priority to agriculture, youth empowerment, culture, tourism and information and communication technology.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communications, Mr Honour Sirawoo, said the proposal was thoroughly scrutinised by the executive council to ensure value for money and effective utilisation of public resources.
According to him, the approved spending plan is structured to improve the welfare of residents and strengthen service delivery across the state.
If approved by the House of Assembly, the ₦1.85 trillion budget is expected to stimulate economic activity, accelerate the completion of stalled projects and enhance public service delivery in Rivers State.
The emphasis on infrastructure, social services and productive sectors such as agriculture and ICT signals a growth-oriented approach aimed at addressing unemployment and improving social welfare, although the eventual impact will depend on revenue performance, fiscal discipline and effective implementation.
