Rivers Assembly Gives Fubara 48-Hour Ultimatum to Present 2025 Budget

Rivers Assembly – The political landscape in Rivers State has taken another dramatic turn as the Rivers State House of Assembly has issued an ultimatum to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, demanding that he present the 2025 Appropriation Bill within 48 hours. This resolution follows a Supreme Court judgment that halted federal allocations to the state due to the absence of an appropriation law.

The directive was part of a five-point resolution adopted by the lawmakers during their 130th Legislative Day of the Second Session of the Tenth Assembly, held on Monday, March 3, 2025. The Assembly, led by Speaker Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, stressed the urgency of passing the budget to avoid a financial crisis in the state.

The Supreme Court of Nigeria, in its judgment on February 28, 2025, ruled in two critical cases, SC/CV/1174/2024 and SC/CV/1105/2024, which have significant implications for the governance of Rivers State. In the first case, the court ordered a halt on statutory federal allocations to the Rivers State Government until a valid Appropriation Bill is passed. The judgment also prevents the state from spending money from its Consolidated Revenue Fund without a duly enacted budget.

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In the second case, the Supreme Court nullified the October 5, 2024, local government elections, citing non-compliance with the Electoral Act. The Assembly has now announced plans to amend the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018 and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law No. 2 of 2018 to align with national electoral laws before fresh elections can be conducted. The lawmakers also reminded the governor that, based on the Supreme Court ruling in SC/CV/343/2024, local government councils must be run by democratically elected officials, prohibiting the appointment of interim heads or administrators.

Rivers Assembly Resolution

Following deliberations on the Supreme Court judgments, the Rivers State House of Assembly passed several resolutions. The first and most urgent was the directive for Governor Fubara to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill within 48 hours to ensure the smooth operation of government functions and the release of statutory funds. The Assembly also resolved to commence the process of amending key electoral laws to ensure compliance with national standards and enable fresh local government elections. Additionally, the House announced that it would embark on a 12-week recess starting Friday, March 7, 2025, but assured that standing committees would continue essential oversight functions.

The Rivers political crisis has been intensifying for months, with a deepening rift between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Assembly. The latest Supreme Court judgments have further complicated the situation, potentially putting the state’s financial stability at risk. Speaker Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule emphasized that the resolutions aim to prevent Rivers people from suffering due to the absence of an appropriation law. He called on the governor to act swiftly in the best interest of the state.

If Governor Fubara fails to submit the 2025 Appropriation Bill within the stipulated 48-hour deadline, it could escalate the political standoff, leading to further legal and legislative actions. Meanwhile, the demand for fresh local government elections could also spark fresh power struggles within the state’s political factions. With the Rivers Assembly set to embark on a recess, all eyes will be on Governor Fubara’s next move. Will he comply with the Assembly’s directive, or will the crisis deepen? The coming days will be critical in shaping the political and economic future of Rivers State.

For the latest updates on this developing story, stay tuned to Symfoni News.