A fresh political face-off emerged in Rivers State on Monday as the State House of Assembly slammed Governor Siminalayi Fubara, accusing his administration of abandoning public schools despite having strong financial buffers.

Naijaonpoint reports that the lawmakers argued that the immediate past Sole Administrator, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, left over ₦600 billion in state accounts when he exited office in September.

Members of the Assembly said the state government was paying lip service to the public school crisis, while hundreds of teachers battle poor facilities and deteriorating infrastructure.

House Committee Chairman on Education, Hon. Igwe Aforji, during a visit to Township Schools 1 and 2 along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, branded the school conditions deplorable.

Speaker of the Rivers Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule said the state of public education had hit rock bottom, lamenting that pupils now learn in suffocating environments, while teachers strain without reinforcements.

The speaker said, “As of yesterday, the House committee chairman on education found out that one teacher is teaching two classes, Primary 1 and 2, in one classroom. So the teacher will teach Primary 1 a little while Primary 2 is listening to Primary 1 class. Then Primary one will stop listening while the teacher teaches Primary 2. Maybe they are blocking their ears, and they are in the same classroom.”

He also highlighted the lack of basic amenities, noting that one school near the government house and the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company headquarters had no power, toilets, or security.

“Vandals have taken over the school. They destroy the little facilities they have there. The Rivers State Executive Council has not done anything,” he said.

Amaewhule lamented that although the immediate past administrator, Ibas, left over ₦600bn in state accounts, public schools remain in a “shameful state.” He warned,

He further stated, “We cannot continue to fold our arms while our children continue to suffer, while teachers continue to cry. How will anyone believe that in the year 2025, in a state like Rivers, one teacher will be teaching two classrooms under one roof?

“No toilet, no electricity, yet that school is sharing a fence with the PHED headquarters. Vandals have taken over the school… It is an abomination, it is an aberration, and it is unacceptable.”

Governor Fubara, in his response, said improving education is a priority and announced that the sector will receive the largest allocation in the 2026 budget.

He acknowledged the poor state of schools but stressed that the decay predated his administration and was used by opponents during the 2023 campaigns.

Fubura stated, “You all are aware of the deplorable state of our schools. They didn’t get that way in one month or one year. If you remember, one of the things they used in abusing me when I was campaigning was, ‘What are you doing? You say you want to continue. There are no teachers in Etche, Gokana and other parts of the state.”

Fubara also reflected on the political crisis, saying it slowed progress.

He stated, “If you want to be truthful to yourself, if at all we have had peace, I can say I had peace only after we came back from the emergency. Tell me, had there been any month before that unfortunate incident that we had one week of rest?”

He assured that his team was working strategically to reverse the decline in education, citing his background in public administration as guiding his approach to planning and reform.

Speaking on healthcare, he pointed to ongoing upgrades of zonal hospitals and interventions in workers’ welfare.

Fubara, who spoke on creating employment, said the government remains committed to creating jobs, including the anticipated 10,000 openings, but stressed that recruitment would be based on the state’s needs and would not be politicised.

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