REPS AD-HOC COMMITTEE QUERIES ₦1.48TR RIVERS STATE 2025 BUDGET

The Ad-hoc Committee on Oversight of Rivers State, chaired by the House Leader, Rt. Hon. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, CON, has raised serious queries concerning the ₦1.48 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill presented by the Rivers State Government. The review followed a budget defence session at the National Assembly in Abuja, where the Rivers delegation appeared before the Committee.
In his remarks, Rt. Hon. Ihonvbere stated that the Committee had meticulously scrutinised the proposed budget. He noted that the oversight session was essential to ensuring transparency, accountability, and sustainable development in Rivers State. The Committee expressed particular concern over several expenditure lines that lacked detailed justification or appeared to exceed the bounds of state responsibility.
Among the contentious allocations were ₦24 billion for the installation of CCTV systems at the Rivers State Government House, ₦30 billion earmarked for the procurement of gunboats, and ₦23 billion placed under a contingency provision without comprehensive explanation. The Committee also queried the state government’s decision to finance projects constitutionally assigned to the Federal Government without documented agreements or reimbursement frameworks.
In response, the Committee issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Rivers State Government, requesting a detailed breakdown and justification for the highlighted budget items. It also demanded the submission of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), as required by law to precede budget presentation. Further documentation was requested, including records of monthly federal allocations and internally generated revenue from January to June 2025, with special attention to IGR performance over the past three months. The Committee also asked for full disclosure on the management of Local Government funds, the legal and administrative framework governing them, and documentary evidence of financial transfers made to each of the 23 Local Government Areas. Lastly, they demanded all relevant records concerning the Airforce Base Agreement referenced during the budget presentation.
Rt. Hon. Ihonvbere underscored the duty of the National Assembly to protect the interests of citizens across every part of Nigeria, regardless of proximity to the state capital. He reiterated that the House was focused on ensuring accountability and restoring good governance in Rivers State. He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his timely intervention, which had helped ease tensions between the state’s executive and legislative arms.
Responding on behalf of the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), Mr. Andrew Nweke, Special Adviser on Strategy and Policy, explained that many of the expenditures in the 2025 budget were inherited. He said they were based on needs assessments carried out by relevant agencies. Nweke clarified that the ₦30 billion