118
By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Nigerian Senate has approved a N1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for the 2025 fiscal year. This comes after the consideration of a report by the Senate Ad-hoc Committee tasked with overseeing the emergency rule currently in place in the state.
The Appropriation Bill was passed following its presentation during plenary by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who chairs the Ad-hoc Committee.
Bamidele informed the Senate that the bill authorizes the release of N1,485,662,592,442 from Rivers State’s Consolidated Revenue Fund for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025.
The approved budget allocates N120.8 billion for debt servicing, N287.38 billion for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, and a substantial N1.077 trillion for capital expenditure.
During the debate, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) raised concerns regarding an additional N50 billion earmarked for outstanding pensions and gratuities. He urged the Ad-hoc Committee to provide rigorous oversight to ensure these funds are promptly disbursed to the rightful beneficiaries.
Background to the Emergency Budget.
The 2025 Appropriation Bill for Rivers State was submitted to the National Assembly for consideration by President Bola Tinubu in May. This unusual step was taken due to the suspension of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The proposed budget, as outlined in a letter from President Tinubu to Senate President Goodwill Akpabio, initially totaled N1.481 trillion, with significant allocations intended for revitalizing key sectors within the state.
This development follows months of political turmoil between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who are loyal to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike. The protracted crisis culminated in President Tinubu declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025. Subsequently, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) was appointed as the Sole Administrator to oversee the state’s affairs for an initial six-month period, with the possibility of a return to democratic governance thereafter.