Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that education will receive the largest allocation in the 2026 state budget, declaring it a top priority of his administration.
Governor Fubara made the pledge on Monday in Port Harcourt while declaring open the 123rd and 124th combined quarterly meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers.
He acknowledged the deplorable condition of many public schools across the state but noted that the decay was inherited and did not start with his administration. According to him, the deterioration of educational infrastructure had been a major talking point during the 2023 election campaigns, often used by his opponents to criticise the previous and current state of governance.
The governor said his administration is taking a strategic, reform-driven approach guided by his public administration background to reverse the decline in the education sector.
On healthcare, Governor Fubara cited the ongoing upgrade of zonal hospitals and improved welfare packages for healthcare workers as signs of better service delivery in the health sector.
Speaking on employment, he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating jobs but said recruitments, including the anticipated 10,000 job openings, will be based strictly on the needs of the state and not influenced by politics.
The meeting, which served as the third and fourth combined session of the Council this year—also the fourth since he assumed office—provided an avenue for the governor to commend traditional rulers for their role in resolving the political impasse that once threatened stability in the state. He credited their interventions with maintaining peace across communities and promoting a calm atmosphere.
Governor Fubara’s comments on education followed the circulation of a viral video earlier on Monday in which the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, criticised the government’s handling of the education sector. In the video, the Speaker highlighted alleged neglect of basic school infrastructure and unresolved challenges affecting teaching and learning.
