Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have announced that they returned the N100,000 Christmas gift paid to them by the state governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
The lawmakers described the cash gift as unsolicited and unapproved, accusing the governor of repeatedly spending state funds without due regard for the law.
Recall that Governor Fubara had earlier approved the payment of N100,000 to civil servants and some public office holders in Rivers State to mark the Christmas festivities.
However, the lawmakers, in a statement issued on Tuesday night and signed by the chairman, House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Hon. Enemi Alabo George, rejected the payment.
George stated: “Today, the 30th day of December 2025, Honourable members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly received bank credit alerts of the sum of one hundred thousand naira (N100,000) each. The said unsolicited and unapproved amount was transferred on the instructions of the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalaye Fubara GSSRS, to the personal accounts of members.
“Upon discovery of these unsolicited and unapproved transfers, Honourable Members of the House took immediate steps to formally return the said funds to the account of the Rivers State Government.”
He added that the Assembly, as a law-abiding institution, would not participate in any action that contravenes established legal procedures.
According to him, since assuming office in 2023, the governor has consistently withdrawn funds from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Account without legislative approval, despite repeated warnings from the House.
George said: “As an institution established by law and guided strictly by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Rivers State House of Assembly maintains that all public expenditures must follow due process, including legislative approval.
“The Governor, since assumption of office in 2023, has consistently drawn from the consolidated revenue accounts of Rivers State without legislative approval, despite repeated warnings from the House, judgment of the Supreme Court and in defiance of the Constitution and principles of separation of powers.”
He further warned public servants against collaborating in actions that violate the law.
“Therefore, with the leave of Mr Speaker and the entire House, I cease this medium to once again draw the attention of all staff of the Rivers State Government who connive with the Governor and others to contravene the Constitution and laws of Rivers State to the fact that we have become aware of their unlawful conduct.”