House Committee Questions Rivers ₦1.48trn Budget, Demands Clarity on Controversial Spending Items
By Exponent News Akure | July 1, 2025
The Ad-hoc Committee on Oversight of Rivers State, chaired by the House Leader, Rt. Hon. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, CON, has queried key components of the ₦1.48 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill submitted by the Rivers State Government, demanding clarity and detailed justification for several high-value items.
At a budget defence session held at the National Assembly in Abuja, the Rivers State delegation was grilled by lawmakers on expenditures that the Committee described as questionable, with particular attention drawn to:
₦24 billion allocated for CCTV installations at the Government House;
₦30 billion for the procurement of gunboats;
₦23 billion listed under contingency without any breakdown or supporting explanation.
Rt. Hon. Ihonvbere emphasized that the National Assembly must ensure transparency, fiscal discipline, and a commitment to sustainable development. He also questioned the decision of the Rivers Government to fund projects traditionally under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government without formal agreements or reimbursement plans.
To this end, the Committee issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Rivers State Government to provide:
1. A breakdown and justification for the queried expenditures;
2. A copy of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), as a prerequisite for budget presentation;
3. Federal Allocation and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) records from January to June 2025, with emphasis on recent IGR trends;
4. Legal and administrative documentation governing Local Government fund management;
5. Evidence of fund transfers to each of the 23 Local Government Areas;
6. Records on the Airforce Base Agreement mentioned in the budget.
“We want to ensure that we promote accountability and that the interests of the people, no matter how remote they are from the state capital, are protected,” Ihonvbere said. “Be rest assured that we are all on the same side in terms of getting Rivers working again.”
The Committee commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his decisive intervention that helped stabilise relations between the executive and legislative arms in Rivers State following the March political crisis.
Responding on behalf of the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), Mr. Andrew Nweke, Special Adviser on Strategy and Policy, defended the budget’s priorities. He stated that:
The ₦30 billion for gunboats was meant to enhance security across the state’s waterways;
The ₦23 billion contingency fund would help manage flooding and other emergencies;
The ₦24 billion CCTV project was aimed at modernising security infrastructure around the seat of power.
Nweke assured lawmakers that all requested documents would be submitted promptly.
The Ad-hoc Committee reaffirmed the National Assembly’s oversight role in ensuring prudent financial management at all levels of government. Lawmakers stressed the need for full cooperation from the Rivers administration in the spirit of good governance.
The budget scrutiny follows the declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State by President Tinubu on March 18, 2025, which was ratified by the House on March 20. The National Assembly assumed legislative functions in the state based on Sections 11(4) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), to restore governance and order.
The House of Representatives reiterated its commitment to upholding accountability, strengthening democratic institutions, and protecting the interests of the people of Rivers State during this critical period.
