THE Nigerian Senate has disclosed that a substantial portion of Rivers State’s ₦1.48 trillion 2025 budget was originally drafted under the leadership of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The Chairman of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Emergency Governance in Rivers State, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, made this known today during a budget defence session with the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), and key financial officers at the National Assembly.
According to Bamidele, after three weeks of thorough budget review and consultations with the Accountant General, Budget Director, Permanent Secretary of Finance, and Planning Director—all of whom retained their roles following the declaration of emergency rule—the committee found that approximately 85% of the budget proposals originated from the Fubara administration.
“Only about 15% of the budget was revised or added by the current administrator to include new projects,” Bamidele stated.
The committee also confirmed that Vice Admiral Ibas has submitted a request for a ₦50 billion supplementary budget.
The funds, he said, would be directed towards clearing outstanding pension and gratuity liabilities, a move the Senate is now evaluating.
“Governance goes beyond infrastructure. Ensuring retired workers receive their due is critical for peace and continuity in the state,” Bamidele added.
He further noted that more than 70% of the state’s 2025 budget is allocated to capital projects—an approach the Senate lauded as exemplary, urging other states to adopt similar development-focused budgeting.
The Senate Committee reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring the budget’s implementation and pledged to intensify oversight efforts as emergency rule remains in effect in Rivers State.