Rivers Assembly Removes ₦6bn Scholarship Fund for Students

Rivers State students benefiting from the scholarship programme at the Pamo University of Medical Sciences (PUMS), Port Harcourt, may face financial uncertainty after the Rivers State House of Assembly removed ₦6 billion allocated for the programme in the state’s 2026 budget.

Key Highlights

• Rivers Assembly removes ₦6bn allocated for PUMS scholarship programme.
• Scholarship funds reportedly reallocated to the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Board.
• PUMS is owned by former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili.
• Governor Siminalayi Fubara had adopted and expanded the scholarship programme.
• Assembly Speaker Martins Amaewhule did not publicly state why the allocation was removed.
• The ₦1.854 trillion 2026 Rivers State budget has now been signed into law.

The decision was disclosed by the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, during the signing of the ₦1,854,248,734,475.76 2026 Appropriation Bill into law by Governor Siminalayi Fubara at Government House, Port Harcourt, on Thursday.

According to Amaewhule, the lawmakers removed the ₦6 billion scholarship allocation and reallocated the funds to the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Board.

The Speaker, however, did not publicly give details on the reasons for removing the scholarship allocation or explain the basis for transferring the funds to the healthcare sector.

History of Rivers PUMS Scholarship Programme

The scholarship programme was established under the administration of former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Governor Fubara, upon assuming office, retained the programme and reportedly increased the number of scholarship slots by about 100 per cent.

The programme has provided financial support to Rivers State students studying at PUMS, a private medical university in Port Harcourt founded by former Governor Peter Odili.

The removal of the allocation could therefore affect students and their families who have relied on the programme to offset the cost of medical education.

₦1.854tn Rivers Budget Signed Into Law

The development came as Governor Fubara signed the Rivers State 2026 Appropriation Bill into law.

The budget, christened the “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development,” provides a financial framework for the implementation of government programmes and projects during the 2026 fiscal year.

The ₦1.854 trillion appropriation places significant emphasis on capital development, including infrastructure, education, healthcare and other critical sectors.

Governor Fubara’s assent formally concludes the legislative process and clears the way for implementation of the 2026 fiscal plan.

The budget was presented to the Rivers State House of Assembly by Governor Fubara on July 10, 2026, and subsequently subjected to legislative scrutiny before its passage.

With the governor’s signature, the Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development has become the official fiscal blueprint for Rivers State for the 2026 financial year.

Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Deputy Governor, members of the State Executive Council and other dignitaries attended the signing ceremony.