Yan Nigeria
The Senate on Wednesday passed the 2025 Appropriation Bill for Rivers State, amounting to ₦1.485 trillion, following its third reading on the floor of the upper chamber.
Naija News reports that the passage comes months after President Bola Tinubu submitted the revised budget to the National Assembly in May, following a protracted political crisis that led to the suspension of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
According to the appropriation bill, the Senate has authorized the issuance of ₦1,485,662,592,442 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025.
Breakdown of the approved budget includes:
₦1.077 trillion for capital expenditure
₦287.38 billion for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure
₦120.8 billion for debt servicing
The report of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State was adopted during the Committee of Supply session, leading to the bill’s swift passage.
While lending support to the bill, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) expressed reservations about the additional ₦50 billion earmarked for payment of outstanding pensions and gratuities.
“There is a need for more rigorous oversight by the Ad-Hoc Committee to ensure that pension funds are disbursed promptly and directly to the rightful beneficiaries,” Ningi said.
He urged the Senate to ensure accountability and transparency in the handling of pension payments, a concern echoed by other lawmakers during the session.
The Senate’s approval follows a dramatic political fallout between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the Rivers State Assembly loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. The crisis reached its peak when the Supreme Court nullified the original 2025 budget presented by Fubara.
Citing a constitutional vacuum, President Tinubu, on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended the House of Assembly.
He subsequently appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as state administrator for a six-month transitional period to stabilise governance and oversee the submission of a revised budget.
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