Rivers Assembly gives Gov Fubara 48 hours to present 2025 budget

The Rivers State House of Assembly has given Governor Siminalayi Fubara 48 hours to present the 2025 budget to the lawmakers.

This announcement was made during a plenary session in Port Harcourt on Monday, following a motion moved by Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol.

In their resolution, signed by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, the lawmakers stated, “Pursuant to the order of the Supreme Court in Suit No. SC/CV/1174/2024, which calls for the stoppage of Statutory Federal allocations to the Rivers State Government and the halting of spending from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State until an Appropriation Bill is passed, you are requested to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the House in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended. The House expects you to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill within 48 hours.”

In his remarks, Amaewhule condemned Governor Fubara’s directive to the heads of Local Government Administration, stating that it is illegal and contrary to the Supreme Court’s decision.

The lawmakers drew the governor’s attention to “the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended; the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Law, 2023 as well as the Judgement of the Supreme Court in Suit No.: SC/CV/343/2024 that prohibits the administration of Local Governments by HLGAs or any other persons other than democratically elected officials”.

On January 2nd, Governor Fubara signed a budget of N1.1 trillion for 2025 into law after presenting it to the lawmakers led by Victor Oko-Jumbo.

However, just last week, the Supreme Court ordered Martin Amaewhule and the group of lawmakers he leads to resume their duties as legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.