We are working on new budget for Rivers, Ibok-Ete Ibas tells n’assembly caucus

Ibok-Ete Ibas, the sole administrator of Rivers, says the state will soon have a new 2025 budget.

Ibas spoke on Thursday during a meeting with a delegation from the Rivers caucus in the national assembly held at the government house in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The sole administrator said the budget would prioritise education, healthcare, social services, and infrastructural development.

“In addition to our peace-building efforts, we are also focused on the economic stability and development of Rivers state,” he said.

“Since the supreme court verdict on the state’s budget, we have acted swiftly and decided to put together a new budget that reflects our commitment to healthcare, education, social services, and continued infrastructural development.

“We have worked diligently to ensure that the process is transparent, inclusive, and, most importantly, expedited.

“Our goal is to ensure that we do not lose any more time in making the necessary investments that will improve the lives of citizens.”

Ibas said the lawmakers’ partnership with the state is critical for Rivers to “remain on the path of progress and enduring peace for future generations”.

The delegation led by Barinada Mpigi, the senator representing Rivers south-east, included Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers senatorial district), and Kingsley Chinda (minority leader of the house of representatives).

Other house of representatives members from Rivers—Dumnamene Dekor, Solomon Bob, Cyril Godwin Hart, Blessing Amadi, Felix Nwaeke, Kelechi Nwogu, and Victor Obuzor—were among the delegation.

Mpigi said the national assembly members would support all peace and development efforts in the state.

THE RIVERS’ BUDGET CRISIS

The Rivers budget crisis dates back to 2023 when the state’s house of assembly was polarised into two factions.

In December 2023, Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended governor of Rivers, presented an N800 billion budget estimate for 2024 to a five-member state house of assembly led by Edison Ehie.

Barely 24 hours later, the Rivers governor signed the 2024 appropriation bill into law.

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

The court also barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the accountant-general of the federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers state.

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

In October 2024, a court of appeal in Abuja affirmed the judgment of the federal high court.

The judgment of the federal high court was upheld by the supreme court on February 28.

In January, Fubara mirrored the 2023 incident by presenting a N1.18 trillion appropriation bill to just four members of the house of assembly and signing it into law within 72 hours.

FUBARA’S SUSPENSION

On March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, citing the prolonged political crisis in the state.

Tinubu also suspended Fubara as governor of the state; Ngozi Odu, the deputy governor; and all members of the Rivers assembly for an initial period of six months.

The president appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired naval chief, as the state’s sole administrator.

Last month, Ibas said the withheld federation account allocation committee (FAAC) funds had been released to the state.