Amaewhule faults Fubara over delayed submission of Rivers 2026–2028 MTEF

Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, has criticised Governor Siminalayi Fubara over what he described as the late submission of the state’s 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

Amaewhule, in a statement issued by his media aide, Martins Wachukwu, said the fiscal framework was submitted well outside the timeline stipulated by law.

According to the Speaker, the MTEF ought to have been presented much earlier in line with the Rivers State Fiscal Responsibility Law, but was only forwarded when the year was already significantly advanced.

InfoStride News recalls that Governor Fubara on Thursday submitted the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework to the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Despite the delay, Amaewhule said the Assembly approved the document in the interest of the state and to avoid further setbacks in the budget process.

The House approved the spending framework on Friday during plenary, less than 24 hours after it was presented to lawmakers.

Citing Section 10(1)(b) of the Rivers State Fiscal Responsibility Law No. 8 of 2010, the Speaker said the MTEF is required to be laid before the House in September, four months before the commencement of the next fiscal year.

He maintained that Governor Fubara failed to comply with the statutory timeline, resulting in what he described as a significant delay in the state’s budget planning process.

“The presentation was late. But in the interest of the state, the House deemed it expedient to consider the document, which is a precursor to the State’s 2026 Budget Estimate, even though the year is already half gone,” Amaewhule said.