John AUDU
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has presented his 2025 budget proposal to the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led House of Assembly, which currently comprises just four members. The proposed appropriation bill amounts to N1.1 trillion and was unveiled during a session held on Monday.
This marks Fubara’s second budget presentation since taking office, following his introduction of the 2024 state appropriation bill of N800 billion to a similarly diminished assembly in 2023, then led by factional Speaker Edison Ehie. The current budget proposal comes at a time of heightened political tension within the state, as citizens are still reeling from the recent demolition of parts of the state House of Assembly complex.
The backdrop to this budget presentation is a significant political upheaval in the Rivers State legislature. A mass defection of 27 Assembly members, including former Speaker Martin Amaewhule, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), has led to a dramatic shift in the political landscape. Following this defection, the remaining three members of the House—Oko-Jumbo, Adolphus Timothy (Deputy Speaker), and Sokari Goodboy (Leader of the House)—have asserted their legitimacy, citing Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution, which they argue allows them to function independently of the defections.
The political crisis has been further complicated by legal battles, with both the Federal High Court and the Appeal Court nullifying the previously proposed N800 billion 2024 Appropriation Bill, thus halting its implementation. This decision has left the state’s fiscal plans in disarray, as the government navigates the complexities of legislative authority and political allegiance.
As the Oko-Jumbo-led assembly continues to conduct legislative functions, they have largely aligned with the Fubara administration. In contrast, the defected members, having returned to the PDP fold, are actively opposing the current government’s policies under Amaewhule’s leadership.
Governor Fubara’s budget proposal reflects his administration’s priorities amidst these turbulent political waters, aiming to address pressing needs within the state while seeking to stabilize governance in the face of ongoing challenges. The implications of this budget and the surrounding political dynamics will undoubtedly shape the future of governance in Rivers State as the year unfolds.
