Port Harcourt, Nigeria – The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Governor Siminalayi Fubara to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill, following a Supreme Court ruling that halted statutory federal allocations to the state.
During plenary on Monday in Port Harcourt, Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol moved the motion, which was adopted by the House. In a resolution signed by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, the lawmakers referenced the Supreme Court’s decision in Suit No.: SC/CV/1174/2024, which ordered the suspension of federal allocations and spending from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State until an appropriation bill is passed.
“That pursuant to the order of the Supreme Court in Suit No.: SC/CV/1174/2024 for the stoppage of statutory federal allocations to the Rivers State Government and halting of spending from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State pending the passage of an Appropriation Bill, you are requested to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the House in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended,” the resolution stated.
The House emphasized that the governor must present the budget within 48 hours.
Assembly Condemns Fubara’s Directive on Local Government Administration
During the session, Speaker Amaewhule also condemned Governor Fubara’s directive instructing Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) to assume control of the 23 local government councils. He argued that the move was illegal and contradicted the Supreme Court’s ruling in Suit No.: SC/CV/343/2024, which prohibits the administration of local governments by unelected officials.
The lawmakers cited the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Law, 2023, as legal grounds for their position.
House to Go on Recess Amid Budget Controversy
The Rivers Assembly also announced plans to proceed on recess by Friday, stating that they have been working continuously for the past two years. Interestingly, no mention was made of the 2024 budget during the plenary session.
Governor Fubara had previously signed a ₦1.1 trillion 2025 budget into law on January 2nd after presenting it to lawmakers loyal to Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo. However, last week, the Supreme Court ordered Speaker Martin Amaewhule and his faction to resume sitting as the legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, effectively ending months of leadership disputes within the legislature.
Supreme Court Ruling Reshapes Rivers Political Landscape
The Supreme Court ruling not only reinstated Amaewhule’s faction but also directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to withhold federal allocations to Rivers State until the state complies with court orders. Additionally, the court nullified last year’s local government elections in Rivers, further escalating political tensions.
Following the verdict, Governor Fubara announced plans for fresh council elections and directed HLGAs to temporarily take over the councils.
“Given the outlawing of caretaker arrangements in the local government system, I hereby direct the Heads of Local Government Administration to immediately take over the administration of the 23 local government councils pending the conduct of fresh elections by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission,” Fubara said in a state broadcast on Sunday.
He further instructed outgoing local government chairmen to formally hand over power to the HLGAs by Monday, March 3, 2025.
With the latest developments, Rivers State remains at the center of intense political and legal battles, as both the executive and legislative arms continue to navigate the implications of the Supreme Court’s rulings.
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