In a crucial session at the National Assembly, the Senate’s Ad Hoc Committee on Emergency Rule Oversight began an in-depth examination of the proposed N1.846 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, which is the largest in the state’s history and represents an 86.6 percent increase compared to last year’s budget.
This session represented the most significant phase of federal oversight since President Bola Tinubu declared emergency rule in the state earlier this year.
On Thursday, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, revealed that certain officials within the state government had withheld essential financial documents necessary to account for the expenditures incurred by the state during the first quarter of 2025.
Nevertheless, the Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Oversight of Emergency Rule in Rivers State, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, remarked that emergency rule “is not a substitute for democratic governance, but rather an extraordinary measure aimed at ensuring peace and security in Rivers State.”
Ibas stated: “This is not business as usual. This is a transitional moment that requires decisive action. The 2025 budget is designed to tackle insecurity, repair broken systems, and establish a foundation for peace and inclusive growth.”
The Sole Administrator further clarified that the initial budget framework, of which 85 percent was inherited from the previous administration, was adjusted upward by approximately 15 percent to focus on three critical areas.
Bamidele subsequently emphasized that the Senate’s Authority also instructed the ad-hoc committee to “monitor how the allocated resources in the budget will be utilized for the benefit of the people of Rivers State.
“As representatives of the populace, we are not only responsible for assessing figures but also for ensuring the faithful execution of the budget. It is our duty to monitor how allocated resources are utilized on a project-by-project and sector-by-sector basis to ensure transparency and maintain accountability in the management of public funds.
This indicates that our discussion today regarding the Rivers State 2025 Appropriation Bill is not concluded here. In the upcoming months, we will evaluate the budget’s performance by closely observing disbursements, execution timelines, and delivery.
Our aim is to ensure that allocated funds result in significant development and that any deviations or delays are promptly addressed in the greater public interest.
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Beyond mere figures, we must also assess the actual impact of this budget on the daily lives of the citizens of Rivers State. During periods of political instability and emergency governance, government actions must not only comply with the law but also prioritize the needs of the people.
We must inquire: will this budget provide reliable roads, healthcare, education, safety, and livelihoods for the populace? Ultimately, this is how we cultivate trust in government and public institutions such as ours.
When citizens can perceive the benefits of democracy, when budget allocations on paper transform into tangible solutions in reality, their confidence in governance is revitalized. It is this trust that we must strive to restore and enhance through our recommendations and ongoing legislative oversight,” the chairman of the ad-hoc committee articulated.
HOWEVER, three months following the declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State, residents, including experts, have criticized the prevalence of multiple taxation and a deteriorating economy.
They expressed concerns that the emergency regime is failing to fulfill its intended purpose, voicing apprehension about the escalating economic decline and fragile peace within the state.
On March 18 of this year, President Bola Tinubu proclaimed a State of Emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and the members of the state Assembly, due to the ongoing political crisis in the region.
The President has additionally appointed a Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas, to oversee the state, expressing his deep concern regarding the ongoing crisis within the state. He conveyed his hope that this decision would facilitate the restoration of peace and stability. On March 20, the Senate sanctioned the President’s declaration of a State of Emergency following a private meeting with lawmakers.
Nevertheless, three months later, residents have expressed their dissatisfaction with the decline in business activity. Traders in Mike One, Mike Three, and other markets throughout the state have raised concerns about insufficient patronage.
Furthermore, business owners have complained about being subjected to excessive taxation without any oversight. Investigations reveal that various groups of tax collectors are currently harassing business owners and traders across the state.
