Rivers Assembly Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum To Fubara For 2025 Budget Submission

The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a 48-hour deadline for Governor Siminalayi Fubara to present the 2025 budget for legislative review.

During Monday’s plenary in Port Harcourt, Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol moved a motion emphasizing the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that halted federal allocations to the state and restricted spending from the Consolidated Revenue Fund until an Appropriation Bill is passed.

The resolution, signed by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, reminded the governor of his constitutional duty to submit the budget promptly.

“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.

“That the House expects you to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill within 48 hours,” the lawmakers said in a resolution signed by Speaker Martin Amaewhule.

Amaewhule also criticized Fubara’s directive that Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) should oversee council affairs, calling it unconstitutional and contrary to the Supreme Court’s decision.

He cited the 1999 Constitution, the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Law of 2023, and a Supreme Court ruling (Suit No.: SC/CV/343/2024), which prohibits anyone other than elected officials from running local government councils.

Meanwhile, the House announced plans to go on recess by Friday, citing their continuous work over the past two years. Interestingly, there was no discussion about the 2024 budget during the session.

Governor Fubara had previously signed a ₦1.1 trillion 2025 budget into law on January 2nd after presenting it to lawmakers led by Victor Oko-Jumbo.

However, last week, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Martin Amaewhule’s faction, reinstating them as the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly.

This decision ended months of political disputes over the Assembly’s leadership.

Following the court’s ruling, the reconstituted House convened and demanded Fubara resubmit the budget, adding a new twist to the ongoing political tensions in Rivers State.

The Supreme Court also instructed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend Rivers State allocations until the government complies with court orders. The court also nullified the local government elections held last year.

In his response, Governor Siminalayi Fubara ordered fresh elections and directed Heads of Local Government Administration to temporarily oversee council affairs. He also instructed outgoing local government chairmen to formally transfer authority to the HLGAs by Monday, March 3, 2025.