The Rivers State House of Assembly has given Governor Siminalayi Fubara a 48-hour ultimatum to present the 2025 budget.
The demand was made during Monday’s plenary session, held under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule. Security was heightened at the Rivers House of Assembly Quarters as lawmakers convened for the first time since the Supreme Court’s recent ruling.
Governor Fubara had signed the ₦1.1 trillion 2025 budget into law on January 2, 2025, after presenting it to lawmakers led by Victor Oko-Jumbo. However, on Friday, the Supreme Court directed the governor to present the 2024 budget to a properly constituted Assembly.
Fubara had previously submitted the 2024 budget to four lawmakers led by Edison Ehie, now the Chief of Staff to the Governor, after the Assembly declared the seats of Amaewhule and 26 others vacant. This came after their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move they now deny.
The Supreme Court ruled that Amaewhule and the 26 lawmakers remain members of the Assembly until their status is legally determined. The court also ordered Amaewhule to resume legislative sittings with all elected members of the Assembly.
Additionally, the apex court directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to withhold allocations to Rivers State until the government complies with its ruling.
At their first sitting following the judgment, the Rivers State Assembly demanded that Governor Fubara present the 2025 budget, titled the Budget of Inclusive Growth and Development.
