Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, has assured residents that improving education is a top priority for his administration, revealing that the sector will receive the largest allocation in the 2026 budget.
Governor Fubara made the announcement on Monday while opening the 123/124 combined quarterly meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt.
He acknowledged that many schools are in poor condition but emphasised that the decline did not occur during his tenure.
According to him, the deterioration predated his government and was highlighted by opponents during the 2023 election campaigns.
He said his administration is taking a strategic approach to reverse the decline, leveraging his background in public administration to guide reforms and planning.
On healthcare, he cited ongoing upgrades of zonal hospitals and welfare improvements for healthcare workers as evidence of his government’s commitment to service delivery.
Addressing employment, Governor Fubara reaffirmed the state’s commitment to creating jobs.
He stated that upcoming recruitments, including the anticipated 10,000 positions, would be based strictly on state needs and would not be politicized.
The meeting, which combined the 3rd and 4th quarterly sessions of the year, also allowed the governor to commend traditional rulers for their role in resolving political disputes and maintaining peace across the state.
Governor Fubara’s comments come in response to criticism from the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, who had earlier highlighted neglect of school infrastructure and long-standing educational challenges in a viral video.
