The Rivers State House of Assembly has given Governor Siminalayi Fubara 48 hours ultimatum to present the 2025 budget before the lawmakers, to avoid contravening law guiding appropriation in the country.
The lawmakers gave the ultimatum barely three days after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the over 20 lawmakers who were identified as the faction linked to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
They gave the directives on Monday during its plenary in Port Harcourt, the state capital, urging the governor to adhere strictly to the provisions of the law.
“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 lawmakers said in a resolution signed by the Speaker Martin Amaewhule.
According to the lawmakers, “That the House expects you (the governor) to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill within 48 hours”.
In his remarks, Amaewhule condemned Fubara’s directive to the heads of Local Government Administration to take charge of the councils, saying it is illegal and against the Supreme Court’s decision.
The lawmakers drew the governor’s attention to “the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended; the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Law, 2023 as well as the Judgement of the Supreme Court in Suit No.: SC/CV/343/2024 that prohibits the administration of Local Governments by HLGAs or any other persons other than democratically elected officials”.
The House resolved to go on recess by Friday if the governor refuse to present the budget because they have been working for the past two years nonstop.
