Fubara Prioritises Education, Promises Biggest 2026 Budget Allocation to Overhaul Schools

|By Chinwendu Nwani

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared education a top priority of his administration, announcing that the sector will receive the largest allocation in the state’s 2026 budget.

Fubara made the disclosure on Monday while opening the 123/124 combined quarterly meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt.

He acknowledged the deteriorating state of many schools across the state, stressing that the decay “did not happen overnight” and predated his administration. The governor noted that the poor state of education was heavily politicised during the 2023 election campaigns.

Fubara said his team has begun executing strategic plans to reverse the decline, adding that his background in public administration continues to guide his approach to reforming critical sectors.

On healthcare, the governor highlighted the ongoing upgrade of zonal hospitals and welfare interventions for health workers, which he said have strengthened service delivery in the state.

Addressing employment concerns, Fubara reaffirmed his commitment to job creation but insisted that recruitment — including the much-anticipated 10,000 openings — will be driven strictly by the needs of the state, not political pressure.

The meeting, which marked the third and fourth combined session of the year and the fourth since Fubara assumed office, also offered the governor an opportunity to commend traditional rulers for helping stabilise the state during a previous political impasse.

“Their intervention helped maintain peace in their domains, contributing to the largely calm atmosphere currently enjoyed,” he said.