Fubara, lawmakers may clash again as speaker accuses governor of negligence

The Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, MartinAmaewhule, has condemned the continued neglect of public primary and secondaryschools in the state, saying the decay under the government’s watch isunacceptable and embarrassing. Speaking on the floor of the House, Mr Amaewhule said it was“a sad commentary” that public schools in the oil-rich state have deterioratedto the point where vandals have taken over school premises, pupils learnwithout teachers, and one teacher is forced to teach two classessimultaneously. The remark is contained in a video posted on Facebook onMonday. It is unclear when the speaker made the remark. “It’s a fact, the reason is because of abandonment by peoplewho are supposed to be doing the needful. As of yesterday, the House committeechairperson on education found out that one teacher is teaching two classes:Primary 1 and 2,” he said. According to him, many public schools have no toilets, noelectricity and no security despite being located close to government andcorporate institutions. “No toilet, no electricity yet that school is sharing afence with Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company headquarters,” hesaid. “No security yet that same school is directly opposite the policeheadquarters.” Mr Amaewhule lamented that the government had failed torespond to earlier calls for intervention. “The worst of it is that upon what we said when this motioncame up nothing has happened. The Rivers State Executive Council has not doneanything. They’ve done nothing to remedy the situation – it is a sadcommentary.” He said the situation not only demeans the state butthreatens the future of children who depend on public schools. “Something has to be done for our schools, for our children,for the future of this state. Our primary and secondary schools cannot remainlike this. They cannot remain without teachers.” Funds available for protests but not for teachersThe Speaker accused the state government of misplacedpriorities, alleging that while money is quickly mobilised to sponsor politicaldemonstrations and street protests, the same urgency does not apply when itcomes to employing teachers and rehabilitating schools. “When the last administration was leaving, the plan for theemployment of 10,000 workers across the state took place, interviewed. What hashappened?” he asked. “People are not employed but when it is time to protest,funds will come for people to protest. When it is time to employ teachers,there will be no money. We cannot continue to keep quiet. We cannot continue tofold our arms while our children continue to suffer. While teachers continue tocry.” Mr Amaewhule questioned how a state as wealthy as Riverscould justify neglecting basic education. “How would anyone believe that in 2025, in Rivers State, oneteacher is teaching two classes. How would anyone believe that in a school thatis very close to Government House that in a year 2025, pedestrians will becalled to come and teach pupils because there’s no teachers — this is anabomination, an aberration and it is not acceptable.” N600 billion left behind by Ibas — What Happened?The speaker said the state has sufficient financial capacityto overhaul the public school system, insisting that lack of funds cannot be anexcuse. “Is it that we don’t have funds in the state? Of course wehave. As at the time the Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ette Ibas was leaving, heleft over N600 billion in the account of Rivers state.” Mr Amaewhule said the Assembly would no longer tolerate whathe described as indolence and abandonment of responsibility. “Something has to be done. We will not allow this indolenceto continue. We are the only people mandated by law to fight for our people,fight for our parents. Parents are crying. The complaints we’re getting, thepictures sent to us come from parents from Township School 11.” Citing more examples of neglect, he said some schools inEtche were operating under roofs overgrown with weeds. “The other day, somebody went to Etche and saw children witheven weed on their roof. How the weeds got to the roof and they’re learningunder, I can’t imagine. It’s appalling.” Fubara respondsHours after the speaker’s remarks went viral, GovernorSiminalayi Fubara addressed the concerns—though indirectly—during the 123rd and124th combined quarterly meeting of the Rivers State Council of TraditionalRulers. Mr Fubara said his administration remained committed toeducation despite “glaring challenges.” He told the traditional rulers that education infrastructurewould be prioritised in the 2026 budget, stressing that peace and stability inthe state were enabling economic growth. Governor Fubara reassured stakeholders that his governmentwas not distracted. “Our vision is to ensure that Rivers State is safe, ourvision includes the provision of good health care services, which we are doing,the records are there,” he said, pointing to ongoing construction andcompletion works in hospitals across senatorial districts. On claims about delayed em

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