The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a stern ultimatum to Governor Similaya Fubara.
They have given him 48 hours to present the 2025 budget to the legislators.
This directive was made known during a sitting held in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Lawmakers emphasised the urgency of this request during their session.
Earlier on January 2nd, Governor Fubara had signed the ₦1.1 trillion 2025 budget into law. He presented the budget to lawmakers under the leadership of Victor Oko-Jumbo.
However, the political landscape shifted when the Supreme Court validated the membership of Martin Amaewhule and his associates. This ruling resolved a long-standing leadership impasse that had divided the House.
In their first sitting after the landmark judgment, the lawmakers demanded the governor’s appearance to present the budget. They referred to it as the “Budget of Inclusive Growth and Development.”
The Supreme Court also intervened by ordering the Central Bank of Nigeria to withhold funds from Rivers State.
This measure was in response to the state’s non-compliance with previous court orders.
Additionally, the court nullified the local government elections held last year in the state.
This decision has added to the mounting pressure on the administration.
In reaction to these developments, Governor Fubara has taken decisive action. He has instructed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to organise fresh local government elections.
He explained in a state broadcast on Sunday that caretaker arrangements in the local government system are no longer acceptable. The governor directed the Heads of Local Government Administration to assume control of the 23 local councils immediately until new elections are conducted.
Furthermore, he mandated that the outgoing local government chairmen must formally transfer power to the Heads of Local Government Administration by Monday, 3rd March 2025.
This unfolding situation underscores the dynamic nature of governance in Rivers State.
It also reflects the growing insistence on transparency and accountability in public financial management.