Rivers Assembly directs Governor Fubara to present 2025 budget within 48 hours

Innocent RaphaelMarch 3, 2025

1 minute read

The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a directive to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, demanding the presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill within 48 hours.

This resolution follows a Supreme Court ruling that halted statutory federal allocations to the state and restricted spending from the Consolidated Revenue Fund pending the passage of an Appropriation Bill.

In a letter addressed to the governor on Monday, March 3, the Assembly referenced the Supreme Court’s verdict in Suit No. SC/CV/1174/2024, which underscored the legal necessity of an approved budget before state funds could be accessed.

The lawmakers also deliberated on another Supreme Court judgment in Suit No. SC/CV/1105/2024, which nullified the October 5, 2024, Rivers State local government elections due to non-compliance with the Electoral Act. In response, the Assembly announced plans to amend the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018 and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law No. 2 of 2018 to align them with national electoral guidelines.

The Assembly further emphasized the constitutional provision that local government administration should only be conducted by democratically elected officials, citing the Supreme Court’s decision in Suit No. SC/CV/343/2024, which prohibits the appointment of interim administrators.

Meanwhile, the House announced that it would proceed on a 12-week recess starting Friday, March 7, 2025, but assured that standing committees would continue to perform statutory functions.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, who signed the letter, stressed that the resolutions were aimed at resolving the financial deadlock caused by the absence of an Appropriation Law. He urged the governor to act swiftly to prevent hardship for the people of Rivers State.

The letter was also copied to Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Odu, the Rivers State Accountant-General, and the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).