Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has announced that the education sector will receive the highest allocation in the state’s 2026 budget, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to reversing years of decline in the system.
Gatekeepers News reports that the governor made the disclosure on Monday while declaring open the 123rd/124th combined quarterly meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt.
Fubara acknowledged that many schools across the state are in deplorable condition, stressing that the decay predates his administration. He recalled that the issue was a major talking point used by opponents during the 2023 election campaigns.
“You all are aware of the deplorable state of our schools. They didn’t get that way in one month or one year,” he said. “If you remember, one of the things they used in abusing me when I was campaigning was, ‘What are you doing? You say you want to continue. There are no teachers in Etche, Gokana, and other parts of the state.’”
Crisis Slowed Development
The governor also referenced the political crisis that recently rocked the state, saying it disrupted the smooth implementation of development plans.
“If you want to be truthful to yourself, if at all we have had peace, I can say I had peace only after we came back from emergency,” he said. “Tell me, had there been any month before that unfortunate incident that we had one week of rest?”
Despite the turmoil, Fubara maintained that his administration remained focused and would have achieved even more without the disruptions. He assured traditional rulers that the government would address all outstanding needs in the education sector and beyond.
Strategic Reforms, Healthcare and Jobs
Fubara said his background in public administration is shaping his strategic approach to governance and sectoral reforms.
On healthcare, he cited ongoing upgrades to zonal hospitals and improvements in the welfare of health workers as tangible signs of progress.
Commenting on employment, the governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to creating jobs but emphasized that recruitment—including the anticipated 10,000 openings—would be based strictly on the state’s manpower needs and would not be politicised.
Traditional Rulers Commended
Monday’s meeting, the third and fourth combined session of the year and the fourth since Fubara took office, also gave the governor an opportunity to commend traditional rulers for helping to restore political stability in the state.
He praised their intervention during the state’s political crisis, noting that their efforts contributed significantly to the peace currently enjoyed across local communities.
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