Gov Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has, for the second time written the State House of Assembly, informing the lawmakers of his intention to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill.
The governor’s letter, dated March 13 and addressed to the Speaker, Rt. Hon Martin Amaewhule stated his intention to prevent the budget on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 or any other day within March that the House may deem fit, in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment and in response to the lawmakers’ request for him to do so.
Gov Fubara however, recalled visiting the Assembly Quarters, venue of their sittings with his entourage, with the intention of representing the budget but was denied access to the complex.
“You may recall my failed visit to the Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday, 12th March 2025, for the presentation of the 2025 Rivers State Budget in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” the governor recalled in his letter and explained that:
“As you know, the planned presentation of the said budget could not take place because my entourage and I were locked out at the gate and denied entry into the premises, despite the prior delivery of a soft copy of the notice to you following the failure of the Clerk to accept the hard copy from us.
“Recall further that before this unfortunate incident, the House issued a 48-hour ultimatum to present the 2025 budget even when we were yet to be served with the certified true copy of the judgment and accompanying enrolled orders.
“Therefore, we were simply complying with both the order of the Supreme Court and the request of the Rivers State House of Assembly when we came to present the 2025 budget on the 12th of March, 2025.
“The Supreme Court has directed that all arms of government should exercise their powers and perform their duties within the ambits of the Constitution and ordinary laws of our country, and this we must do to end the lingering stalemate and advance the progress of our state and the well-being of our people.
“No matter the depth of our differences, we believe the interests of the state and our people should take priority over political conflicts.
“Against this background, it is my pleasure to again notify you, Mr. Speaker, of my desire and intention to present the 2025 Budget to the Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday, 19th March 2025, by 11 am or any other date within March 2025 that you may consider convenient,” stated the letter.
However, information reaching our news desk indicate that the lawmakers have adjourned their sittings indefinitely. The decision was taken during a plenary session held at the assembly quarters in Port-Harcourt on Friday.
It’s not known how the lawmakers indefinite adjournment of their plenary would affect the governor’s budget presentation. One thing is certain – Rivers people would continue to suffer the fallout of the Supreme Court ruling stopping financial allocations from the federal government to the state.
For now, most staff of local councils in the state are yet to be paid their February salaries as a fallout of the Supreme Court decision.
