Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Monday presented a proposed budget of ₦1.18 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year to a factional House of Assembly consisting of only three lawmakers. The move has deepened tensions in the ongoing political standoff between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, whose loyalists control the larger faction of the Assembly.
The budget presentation, held at the Administrative Block of the Government House in Port Harcourt, bypassed the 27-member faction loyal to Wike, a group the governor has deemed illegitimate.
Budget Highlights
Fubara described the budget, titled “Budget of Inclusive Growth and Development,” as a roadmap to sustainable economic growth and improved living standards. Key allocations include:
- Recurrent Expenditure: ₦462.25 billion
- Capital Expenditure: ₦678.08 billion
- Planning Reserve: ₦35.69 billion
- Closing Balance: ₦12.93 billion
Fubara emphasized the 44:56 recurrent-to-capital expenditure ratio as reflective of his administration’s commitment to infrastructure and human capital development.
Sectoral Allocations:
- Agriculture: ₦31 billion to support agricultural development and youth employment programs.
- Education: Over ₦63 billion (9.3% of the budget) to rehabilitate schools, access matching grants from the Universal Basic Education Commission, and provide free basic education.
- Health: ₦97.75 billion (14.4%) to complete hospital projects, including the upgraded neuropsychiatric hospital and a new general hospital in Rumuigbo.
- Roads and Transport: ₦195 billion to complete ongoing road projects and initiate new ones.
- Social Development: ₦15.4 billion for youth and gender empowerment, sports development, and wealth creation initiatives.
Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo praised the governor’s administration for achieving a notable increase in internally generated revenue, asserting that the budget would support further development.
Political Implications
The budget presentation was marked by protests from the rival faction and criticism from opposition parties. The Rivers State House of Assembly has been divided since October 2023, following a fallout between Fubara and Wike, with the pro-Wike faction defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Fubara’s decision to present the budget to a three-member faction, led by Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo, has been condemned by the Rivers APC. Party chairman Tony Okocha and Publicity Secretary Chibuike Ikenga accused the governor of undermining judicial processes and ignoring court rulings on the Assembly’s legitimacy.
Ikenga stated, “The governor’s decision to present the budget to a three-man Assembly while bypassing the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers is a clear disobedience of court orders. This trajectory does not encourage peace or development in our state.”
Legal Context
The legitimacy of the rival factions of the Assembly remains under judicial review, with the Supreme Court expected to deliver a final ruling. The APC has urged the state government to await the court’s decision to avoid further legal and political complications.
Public Concerns
Critics argue that the political impasse risks delaying budget implementation and could undermine governance in the state. Observers have called for dialogue and adherence to legal resolutions to ensure the stability needed for the budget to deliver its intended benefits.
With the next hearing on the Assembly’s legitimacy set for March 2025, Rivers State remains embroiled in political uncertainty as both factions continue to assert their authority.
