The Rivers State House of Assembly has given Governor Sim Fubara 48 hours to present the 2025 budget to lawmakers. This decision was made during Monday’s plenary session in Port Harcourt, following a motion moved by Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol.
In his remarks, Speaker Martin Amaewhule strongly criticized Governor Fubara’s directive to the heads of Local Government Administration to assume control of the local councils. Amaewhule called the action an illegality, arguing it contravenes a recent Supreme Court ruling.
The House also resolved to begin a recess by Friday after two years of uninterrupted work. Interestingly, no mention was made of the 2024 budget during the session, which has raised questions about the state’s financial priorities.
Governor Fubara had signed the ₦1.1 trillion 2025 budget into law on January 2nd, after presenting it to the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led House of Assembly. However, in a dramatic turn of events last week, the Supreme Court ordered the resumption of the legitimate members of the Assembly, ending a months-long leadership dispute.
The Assembly’s request for the presentation of the budget adds another layer of complexity to the unfolding political drama in the state. It comes on the heels of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision, which also mandated the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to withhold any financial allocations to Rivers State until the state complies with previous court orders.
Additionally, the Supreme Court nullified the controversial local government elections held last year, further complicating the political situation. Governor Fubara, acknowledging the court’s decision, called for fresh local government elections and ordered the heads of Local Government Administration to assume control of the 23 councils until the elections are conducted.
In a state broadcast on Sunday, Fubara instructed outgoing local government chairmen to formally hand over power to the heads of administration by Monday, March 3rd, 2025. This action aims to ensure smooth governance in the interim while preparing for new elections.
As the political drama continues to unfold, the balance of power in Rivers State remains in flux, with legal and financial consequences shaping the future of governance in the oil-rich region.
