Fubara Presents N1.1trn 2025 Budget To Oko-Jumbo Led Rivers Assembly

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has presented N1.188 trillion 2025 budget to the Victor Oko-Jumbo led House of Assembly.

Presenting the Appropriation Bill christened, “Budget of inclusive growth and development,”  to the three-member House of Assembly yesterday, Fubara said: “I am profoundly pleased and honoured to stand before you today to present to the members of this Honourable Assembly the Rivers State Budget for the 2025 financial year.

“As you know, this is my second budget address since assuming the mantle of leadership on May 29, 2023. On December 13, 2023, I presented my first budget under the theme: Renewed Hope, Consolidation and Continuity.

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“A year later, we have every reason to thank God for the continuing privilege of serving our dear State and her people with courage, honour and integrity despite the obvious challenges.

“I want to assure you and the good people of Rivers State that we are determined and resolute in providing our dear State with unmatched services.

“Indeed, we were elected at this time to serve God’s divine purpose for the State and our people, and with Him by our side, we will continue to provide and ensure our campaign promises are fulfilled.

“Our mission in government is to serve the State, advance its development, and deliver sustainable improvements in the well-being of all residents.

“As servant-leaders, we are responsible for securing the State and delivering quality, effective and efficient public services, including education, healthcare, and socio-economic infrastructure to serve the best interests of our people.

“We also must create an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and create jobs and sustainable economic opportunities for all, including our youths, to prosper and live a good life.”

The governor stated that the appropriation estimate was the true reflection of the reality of the state of our economy “with reasonable flexibility that allows for eminent shocks from the current challenges with the national economy and macroeconomic frameworks.

“No other government in recent history has delivered more capital investments and captured the confidence of our people in our ability and commitment to deliver strategic development and the building of prosperous, sustainable and inclusive progress in Rivers State than we have done.

RIVERS BUDGET CRISIS AND THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

In December 2023, Fubara presented the 2024 budget to five-member of the Edison Ehie-led Rivers house of assembly.

Since 2023, the Rivers assembly has been factionalised following the feud between Fubara and Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

The pro-Wike lawmakers, who are the majority, are being led by Martin Amaewhule.

In October 2023, Edison resigned as lawmaker to become chief of staff to the governor, as Oko-Jumbo took over as speaker to four-member faction of the assembly.

In January, a federal high court in Abuja voided and set aside the presentation and passage of the state’s 2024 budget.

James Omotoso, the presiding judge, ordered Fubara to re-present the budget to the “legally” constituted house of assembly led by Amaewhule.

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The Rivers governor refused to re-present the 2024 budget.

In another suit, the Amaewhule faction of the assembly sought an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the commercial banks, and the attorney-general of federation (AGF) from honouring any financial instruction from Fubara.

In October, a federal high court in Abuja restrained the CBN from further disbursing financial allocations to the Rivers state government.

Joyce Abdulmalik, the presiding judge, had held that monies from the federation account should not be released to the state pending the passage of a lawful appropriation act by a “validly constituted” house of assembly.

The judge ruled that Fubara was wrong to have presented the state’s 2024 appropriation bill to a five-member assembly “that was not properly constituted”.

In December 2024, the court of appeal in Abuja set aside the judgment restraining the CBN from disbursing financial allocations to the Rivers state government.