Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed that revitalising the state’s declining education sector is a central priority of his administration, announcing that education will receive the largest share of the 2026 budget.
The governor made the disclosure on Monday while opening the 123/124 combined quarterly meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt.
Fubara acknowledged that many public schools across the state are in deplorable condition, but emphasised that the decay did not begin under his watch.
He noted that the state of education was a major campaign talking point deployed against him during the 2023 elections.
He said his administration is taking deliberate steps to restore the sector, guided by his background in public administration and a strategic approach to planning and reform.
On healthcare, Fubara highlighted ongoing upgrades of zonal hospitals and improvements in the welfare of health workers as signs of progress in the state’s medical services.
Addressing employment concerns, the governor restated that job creation remains a commitment of his government but insisted that recruitment — including the proposed 10,000 jobs — will be driven strictly by the needs of the state and will not be influenced by politics.
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Monday’s meeting, the third and fourth combined session of the year and the fourth since his assumption of office, also saw the governor commend traditional rulers for their role in defusing the political tension that once threatened stability in the state.
He said their contributions helped sustain peace across their communities.
Fubara’s comments come just hours after a viral video emerged of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, criticising the government for alleged neglect of basic education infrastructure and long-standing challenges affecting teaching and learning.
The governor did not directly address the video, but his remarks underscored his administration’s focus on rebuilding the sector.