The long-awaited final reconciliation of the political crisis between the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and his archrival, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, may have finally been achieved with the submission and passage of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) Bill.
The Rivers State House of Assembly passed the 2026–2028 MTEF Bill presented by Governor Fubara on Friday.
The House passed the bill during plenary after members exhaustively debated the document.
The lawmakers described the provisions contained in the framework as people-friendly due to their focus on the non-oil sector and human capital development.
The lawmakers convened for deliberations after the MTEF document, which details the state’s economic projections for the 2026–2028 fiscal years, was presented to the House on Thursday, June 25, 2026, by Governor Fubara.
This marked the Governor’s first official visit to the Rivers State House of Assembly following a protracted political impasse that had previously culminated in a State of Emergency declaration by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
During the plenary, lawmakers commended Governor Fubara for presenting a framework that captures essential economic components and prioritizes non-oil sector development, despite noting a few grey areas that require review.
The Speaker, Martin Amaewhule put the document to a vote, and the lawmakers overwhelmingly voted in favor of passing the MTEF Bill, which now awaits the assent of the Governor.
Ruling on the matter, the Speaker stated that the Governor can now proceed with the MTEF document as the House awaits the presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
He assured the public that the Tenth Assembly will support policies that move the state forward. He also commended President Tinubu for removing the fuel subsidy, noting that it has increased revenue allocations to other tiers of government.
The House adjourned the sitting to June 30, 2026, for further proceedings.