Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), on Wednesday appeared before an ad-hoc committee of the House of Representatives to defend the N1.481 trillion 2025 budget earlier submitted by President Bola Tinubu and approved by the National Assembly.
The budget, which was presented to the House on May 22, 2025, is part of emergency measures put in place following the suspension of the elected government in Rivers State and the declaration of a state of emergency in the oil-rich state.
The proposal was passed through second reading and committed to the committee for further scrutiny. It is considered the largest fiscal intervention for a state under emergency rule in Nigeria’s recent history.
Addressing lawmakers during the session, Ibas disclosed that the budget was crafted with strategic intent, focusing on priority areas to stabilize the state and ensure governance continuity amid political tensions.
He stated, “The budget was designed to address critical sectors and ensure impactful interventions across the board, given the prevailing situation in the state. We have aligned our projections with realistic expectations under the emergency administration.”
The retired naval officer revealed that the initial preparation of the budget was hampered by a lack of cooperation from some officials of the suspended administration.
“At the time of preparing the budget, we faced challenges in accessing essential data. Some officials withheld vital information, which affected the comprehensiveness of the proposal, especially in capturing actual expenditures and liabilities,” he lamented.
Despite the hurdles, Ibas assured the lawmakers that the funds would be prudently managed to restore normalcy and maintain public confidence in government operations.
The ad-hoc committee, chaired by [Insert Committee Chair’s Name if available], is expected to submit its report in the coming weeks after reviewing the proposed expenditure framework and planned interventions.
The Rivers State emergency budget comes amidst ongoing debates over federal intervention in state affairs, with stakeholders divided over the legality and political implications of the President’s decision.
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