Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday gave Governor Siminalayi Fubara a 48 – hour ultimatum to present 2025 budget to the state lawmakers.
The lawmakers issued the ultimatum during plenary in Port Harcourt, raising fresh concern that this may set off another round of showdown between the executive and legislative arm in the Garden City.
Governor Fubara had on January 2nd, signed a ₦1.1 trillion 2025 Budget into law after presenting it to the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led four lawmakers.
However, in their first plenary after Supreme Court judgment, Martin Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers loyal to former governor and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, they asked Fubara to present the bill he had christened “Budget of Inclusive Growth and Development.”
The motion asking Governor Fubara to represent the budget was moved by the deputy speaker Dumle Maol.
the lawmakers said in a resolution signed by the Speaker Martin Amaewhule on the motion reads:“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.”
Meanwhile, Amaewhule has condemned Fubara’s directive to the heads of Local Government Administration to take charge of the councils, saying it is illegal and against the Supreme Court’s decision.
The lawmakers drew the governor’s attention to “the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended; the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Law, 2023 as well as the Judgement of the Supreme Court in Suit No.: SC/CV/343/2024 that prohibits the administration of Local Governments by HLGAs or any other persons other than democratically elected officials.”
The House resolved to go on recess by Friday, having been working for the past two years nonstop.
