The Rivers State House of Assembly has granted Governor Siminalayi Fubara a 48-hour deadline to present the 2025 budget to the lawmakers.
This was disclosed during a plenary session in Port Harcourt on Monday, following a motion put forward by Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol.
“Pursuant to the order of the Supreme Court in Suit No.: SC/CV/1174/2024, which halted Statutory Federal allocations to the Rivers State Government and prohibited expenditure from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State until the approval of an Appropriation Bill, you are hereby requested to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the House, in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended,” stated the resolution signed by Speaker Martin Amaewhule. “The House expects you to submit the 2025 Appropriation Bill within 48 hours.”
In his remarks, Amaewhule decried Fubara’s directive to Local Government Administration heads to assume control of the councils, labelling it illegal and contrary to the Supreme Court’s ruling.
The lawmakers reminded the governor of the provisions outlined in the amended 1999 Constitution and the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Law, 2023, as well as the Supreme Court’s judgement in Suit No.: SC/CV/343/2024, which prohibits the administration of Local Governments by heads of Local Government Administration or any individuals other than democratically elected officials.
The House also resolved to adjourn by Friday, as they have been working continuously for the past two years.
Notably, there was no discussion of the 2024 budget during the plenary session.
On January 2nd, Governor Fubara signed a ₦1.1 trillion budget for 2025 into law after presenting it to the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led lawmakers.
However, just last week, the Supreme Court instructed Martin Amaewhule and the group of lawmakers he leads to reconvene as legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
