Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers, has asked for a reschedule to present the 2025 budget to the state house of assembly.
He wrote a letter to the assembly led by Martin Amaewhule asking for a new date in March.
The letter dated 13th March and signed by Fubara himself proposed that the presentation could be on a Wednesday or any day in March.
Fubara said he and his team were denied entry to the Rivers assembly complex on Wednesday despite prior notice. He maintained that he is following the supreme court’s ruling of 28th February which stated that the budget must be presented to the assembly.
Before the incident the house had given 48 hours ultimatum to present the 2025 budget even before the certified true copy of the judgment and its enrolled orders was received.
In the letter, Fubara said he was following both the supreme court’s order and the assembly’s request when he attempted to present the budget on 12th March 2025.
He said the supreme court has directed all arms of government to operate within the confines of the Constitution and established laws.
Fubara argued that this is necessary to overcome the impasse and move the state and its people forward.
He said regardless of political differences the state’s interest and that of its people must come first. So Fubara told the Speaker he will present the 2025 budget on Wednesday 19th March 2025 at 11.00 am or any other day in March 2025.
Background
On Wednesday Fubara and some of his commissioners were prevented from entering the Rivers house of assembly quarters in Port Harcourt to present the budget.
This came after a recent supreme court judgment on the state’s crisis.
Fubara is at loggerheads with Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory over the control of the state’s political structure.
The crisis has led to a division in the Rivers assembly with the Amaewhule led faction supporting Wike.In December 2024 the governor had presented a 2025 budget proposal of N1.1 trillion to a faction of the assembly loyal to him led by Victor Oko-Jumbo.
On 28th February the supreme court upheld a federal high court judgment that stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria and accountant-general from releasing the statutory monthly allocations to Rivers state.
The apex court ordered the Central Bank to hold back the state’s allocation until Fubara presents the appropriation bill to the Amaewhule faction.
This is a reflection of the political crisis in Rivers state.
Studies and political analysts have shown that power tussle can affect budgeting and financial planning in many areas.