The Rivers State House of Assembly has passed the ₦1.84 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill into law following deliberations and recommendations by the Committee on Supply.
The committee proposed several adjustments to the bill before its final passage, including changes to allocations for key sectors and institutions.
According to the committee’s breakdown, the budget will be financed through ₦487.6 billion in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), ₦936.052 billion in Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) receipts, an opening and closing balance of ₦48 billion, ₦50 billion in proposed internal loans, and ₦25 billion in proceeds from the sale of assets.
Sectoral allocations include ₦262 billion for agriculture, ₦625.8 billion for the economic sector, ₦65 billion for law and justice, and ₦435.4 billion for the social sector.
Presenting the committee’s recommendations, members Linda Stewart, Ofiks Kagbang, Enemi George and Igwe Aforji proposed an allocation of ₦1.4 billion to the Primary Health Management Board for the reconstruction of its facility on Accra Street.
The committee also recommended ₦1.4 trillion in total capital expenditure under the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
One of the most contentious issues during the deliberations was the ₦6 billion allocation proposed for Pamo University of Medical Sciences, a privately owned institution.
Members questioned the size of the allocation and raised concerns over the lack of clarity and accountability regarding how previous funds allocated to the university had been utilised.
The issue became more contentious when a commissioner, during the House’s deliberations, wrote to the Assembly requesting that the allocation be increased from ₦6 billion to ₦8 billion, arguing that the initial amount was insufficient.
Lawmakers also pointed to the ₦6.1 billion allocation made to Rivers State University (RSU), a public institution, questioning the justification for providing a comparable amount to a privately owned university in the absence of adequate accountability.
Following the concerns, the committee resolved that no further funds should be released to Pamo University until the House is satisfied with the institution’s accountability measures. The proposed ₦6 billion allocation was therefore stepped down pending further investigation.
The House subsequently voted to pass the ₦1.84 trillion 2026 budget into law, with the committee’s recommended adjustments incorporated into the final Appropriation Bill.
