The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Governor Siminalayi Fubara to present the 2025 budget for consideration. This resolution was reached during a plenary session in Port Harcourt on Monday, with the motion moved by Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol. The lawmakers cited a recent Supreme Court ruling that halted federal allocations to the state and restricted spending from its Consolidated Revenue Fund until a budget is duly passed.
In a resolution signed by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, the lawmakers insisted on adherence to constitutional provisions. “That pursuant to the order of the Supreme Court in Suit no.: SC/CV/1174/2024 for the stoppage of Statutory Federal allocations to the Rivers State Government and halting of spending from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State pending the passage of an Appropriation Bill, you are requested to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the House in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended,” the resolution stated. “That the House expects you to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill within 48 hours.”
Speaker Amaewhule also condemned Governor Fubara’s directive allowing Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) to oversee council affairs, labeling it illegal and in direct violation of the Supreme Court’s decision. The lawmakers pointed to relevant constitutional provisions and a previous Supreme Court ruling (Suit No.: SC/CV/343/2024), which bars local governments from being administered by unelected officials.
The House also announced its decision to go on recess by Friday, citing the need for a break after working nonstop for two years. However, notably absent from discussions during the plenary was any mention of the 2024 budget, raising further questions about the ongoing political tension in the state.
This development comes months after Governor Fubara signed a ₦1.1 trillion 2025 budget into law on January 2nd, following its passage by the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led faction of the House. However, last week, the Supreme Court ruled that Martin Amaewhule and his group of lawmakers should resume as the legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, effectively invalidating previous legislative actions taken by the Oko-Jumbo faction.
The ruling ended months of leadership disputes within the Assembly, which had seen two factions vying for legitimacy. However, in their first sitting since the ruling, the reinstated lawmakers demanded that Fubara re-present the budget he previously termed the “Budget of Inclusive Growth and Development.” This move has added a new twist to the political crisis in the state.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court’s decision also mandated the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to withhold Rivers State’s federal allocations until compliance with court orders is achieved. It further nullified the local government elections held last year, prompting Governor Fubara to call for fresh polls. “Given the outlawing of caretaker arrangements in the local government system, I hereby direct the Heads of Local Government Administration to immediately take over the administration of the 23 local government councils pending the conduct of fresh elections,” the governor declared in a state broadcast.
