- Gov. Siminalayi Fubara had earlier formally notified the Speaker of his intention to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill for legislative consideration and approval
- Fubara stated that his move was in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling and in response to lawmakers’ request for him to re-present the budget
- In a letter dated March 13, Governor Fubara proposed to present the budget on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, or any other date within March deemed suitable by the Assembly.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has adjourned its sittings indefinitely following a plenary session on Friday, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule in Port Harcourt.
This decision comes just hours after Governor Siminalayi Fubara formally notified the Speaker of his intention to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill for legislative consideration and approval.
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In a letter dated March 13, Governor Fubara proposed to present the budget on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, or any other date within March deemed suitable by the Assembly.
Fubara stated that his move was in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling and in response to lawmakers’ request for him to re-present the budget.
The governor also recalled his previous attempt to present the budget at the Assembly Quarters, where lawmakers had been holding their sessions but was denied access to the complex.
The Assembly’s decision to adjourn legislative sittings raises fresh concerns about the lawmakers’ implementation of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
On February 28, the apex court directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Attorney General of the Federation to withhold funds meant for Rivers State until a duly constituted House of Assembly, comprising all elected members, is in place.
The ongoing dispute between the executive and legislative branches of the Rivers State government has created uncertainty around the passage of the 2025 budget and the state’s overall governance.
The budget presentation is a critical step in unlocking funds for the state, as the apex court ordered the suspension of monthly allocations until a fully constituted House of Assembly is in place.
Adding to the uncertainty, local government workers in Rivers State have not received their February salaries due to the removal of 23 local government chairmen following the Supreme Court’s judgment.
This financial strain on local workers, combined with the salary concerns of state civil servants, highlights the pressing need for a resolution to the current political impasse.
