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), saying the document was presented far behind the timeline prescribed by law.
Despite the delay, the Assembly approved the budget framework, explaining that the decision was taken in the interest of the state and to prevent further setbacks in the preparation of the 2026 budget.
Amaewhule made the remarks in a statement issued by his media aide, Martins Wachukwu, shortly after the House approved the spending framework during plenary on Friday.
The approval came less than 24 hours after Governor Fubara presented the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework to the Assembly on Thursday.
The MTEF is a key fiscal policy document that outlines the government’s projected revenue, expenditure and economic assumptions for a three-year period. It serves as the foundation for preparing the annual budget and is expected to guide government spending in line with fiscal sustainability.
According to the Speaker, the Rivers State Fiscal Responsibility Law clearly stipulates when the framework should be submitted to the House of Assembly to allow lawmakers sufficient time to review it before the next financial year begins.
Amaewhule said Governor Fubara failed to comply with the legal requirement by presenting the document several months after the deadline.
He cited Section 10(1)(b) of the Rivers State Fiscal Responsibility Law No. 8 of 2010, which provides that the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework should be laid before the House in September, about four months before the commencement of the next fiscal year.
According to him, the late presentation disrupted the state’s budget planning process and reduced the time available for proper legislative consideration.
“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.
He maintained that while the Assembly was dissatisfied with the delay, lawmakers decided not to reject the document because doing so could further slow down the preparation and passage of the state’s 2026 budget.
The Speaker said the House placed the overall interest of Rivers State above political considerations by giving prompt approval to the framework immediately after its presentation.
The Medium-Term Expenditure Framework is one of the most important documents in Nigeria’s public finance process. Under both federal and state fiscal responsibility laws, governments are required to prepare the MTEF before presenting annual budget estimates.
The document contains projections on government revenue, expected expenditure, borrowing plans and key economic assumptions for the next three years. It is designed to ensure fiscal discipline, improve budget planning and promote transparency in public finance management.
The latest development comes against the backdrop of the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State, which has strained relations between Governor Fubara and the faction of the House of Assembly led by Amaewhule.
The political dispute, which began shortly after Fubara assumed office in 2023, created months of uncertainty over legislative activities, budget implementation and governance in the oil-rich state.
The crisis eventually attracted the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, who brokered a political peace agreement aimed at restoring cooperation between the executive and legislative arms of government.
Although both sides have recently resumed official engagements, disagreements continue to emerge over issues relating to governance and legislative procedures.
With the approval of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, the Rivers State Government is now expected to prepare and present the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly for consideration and passage.
The annual budget will outline the state’s proposed spending on infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, security and other sectors during the 2026 fiscal year.
Budget experts have consistently highlighted that timely preparation and approval of fiscal documents are essential for effective implementation of government programs and projects.
They argue that delays in the budget process can affect project execution, slow economic activities and reduce the efficiency of public service delivery.
While Amaewhule maintained that Governor Fubara failed to comply with the legal timeline for submitting the MTEF, he said the Assembly chose to prioritise the welfare of Rivers people by approving the framework instead of allowing further delays.