A key highlight of the revised budget is a ₦50 billion provision for clearing outstanding pensions and gratuities
The senate has defended the sharp upward review of the 2025 budget for Rivers state, describing the adjustments as necessary, people-focused, and vital for sustaining peace and development under the current emergency administration.
The revised appropriation, submitted to the national assembly by the state’s sole administrator through the President and Commander-in-Chief, reflects a nearly 50 percent increase from the estimates prepared by the now-suspended Sim Fubara-led administration.
According to the senate, the bulk of the increment is targeted at capital-intensive projects and pressing welfare concerns.
Parliament Reports recalls that the Rivers State 2025 appropriation bill passed second reading in the senate on Wednesday, May 28 and was referred to an ad-hoc committee for detailed review.
Addressing journalists on Thursday after the committee had scrutinised the budget in a closed door session, chairman of thecommittee and Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, revealed that nearly 85 per cent of the budget content was originally drafted by the previous administration.
However, the adjustments made by the emergency government reflect a realignment of priorities in response to the prevailing realities, with a stronger focus on infrastructure and public welfare.
A key highlight of the revised budget is a ₦50 billion provision for clearing outstanding pensions and gratuities, an intervention Bamidele described as essential for restoring dignity to retired public servants and promoting social harmony.
“These are citizens who served their state diligently and have waited far too long for their entitlements. We see this move as both a moral obligation and a peace-building effort,” he added.
The senate also applauded the budget’s structure, with over 70 per cent allocated to capital expenditure and less than 30 per cent to recurrent spending. Lawmakers hailed this approach as a model for other subnational governments seeking to stimulate development.
“This demonstrates a clear commitment to infrastructure, job creation, and development. If our budgets focus more on capital projects, our people will see and feel the dividends of democracy,” Bamidele said.
He also reaffirmed the legislature’s commitment to rigorous oversight throughout the life of the budget. Lawmakers, he said, posed tough questions and received detailed explanations from Rivers officials during the budget review process.
According to Bamidele, the cooperation and transparency displayed by the state’s emergency leadership team were commendable, especially given the turbulent political transition that preceded the federal intervention.
The senate, in defending the revised appropriation, also urged other tiers of government to adopt Rivers state’s capital-focused budgeting approach, particularly in crisis situations where governance must be urgently restored.
Earlier during the budget defence, the legislature pledged to closely monitor the disbursement and implementation of the N1.48 trillion budget. The pledge was made during a session of the senate ad-hoc committee on emergency governance in Rivers, chaired by Bamidele.
“This is not just about reviewing figures on paper. We are mandated by the Nigerian people to ensure that allocated funds are used effectively, project by project, sector by sector so that the people of Rivers State feel the real impact of governance, especially under these exceptional circumstances,” he said.
He noted that oversight activities will continue beyond the defence session, including follow-up evaluations to assess budget performance, transparency, delivery timelines, and value for money.
“We’ll be assessing not just the disbursements but also timelines, delivery benchmarks, and outcomes. The goal is simple: ensure that the 2025 budget translates into better roads, improved healthcare, quality education, security, and livelihoods for the people of Rivers State,” he said.
Bamidele also took the opportunity to clarify misconceptions around the emergency rule in Rivers. He emphasised that the intervention, declared by President Bola Tinubu, is not a replacement for democracy but a constitutional mechanism to restore order.
He said, “For the record, emergency rule is not a replacement for democracy. It is a lawful and constitutionally backed response to restore peace and order when governance is under threat, as stipulated in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.”
READ ALSO: Ibas defends Rivers N1.48trn 2025 budget before Reps Committee
2024 fiscal opacity hinders 2025 budget planning, says Ibas
Meanwhile, the sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), raised concerns over the poor documentation and transparency associated with the 2024 fiscal cycle, warning that the absence of credible data is undermining efforts to build a transparent and accountable budget for 2025.
“The limited availability of budgetary records and performance data from 2024 has made it difficult to build a comprehensive and accountable framework for 2025,” Ibas told lawmakers.
He accused certain officials from the previous administration of withholding critical budget documents, further complicating governance restoration efforts under the emergency arrangement.
Ibas had earlier appeared before a corresponding special committee of the house of representatives, where he similarly defended the budget and decried the administrative vacuum left behind by the suspended state government.
