Supreme Court reinstated Rivers State House of Assembly resumed Monday with a 48-hour ultimatum given to governor Siminalayi Fubara to present the 2025 budget to the lawmakers.
Deputy Speaker of the House Dumle Maol moved the motion during plenary in Port Harcourt.
“That pursuant to the order of the Supreme Court in Suit no.: SC/CV/1174/2024 for the stoppage of Statutory Federal allocations to the Rivers State Government and halting of spending from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State pending the passage of an Appropriation Bill, you are requested to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the House in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended,” the lawmakers said in a resolution signed by the Speaker Martin Amaewhule. “That the House expects you to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill within 48 hours”.
In his remarks, Amaewhule condemned Fubara’s directive to the heads of Local Government Administration to take charge of the councils, saying it is illegal and against the Supreme Court’s decision.
The lawmakers drew the governor’s attention to “the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended; the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Law, 2023 as well as the Judgement of the Supreme Court in Suit No.: SC/CV/343/2024 that prohibits the administration of Local Governments by HLGAs or any other persons other than democratically elected officials”.
Governor Fubara had on January 2nd, signed a ₦1.1 trillion 2025 Budget into law after presenting it to the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led lawmakers.
Meanwhile governor Fubara, said he is ready for the challenge of governing the State despite the Supreme Court judgment, which seem to have pandered to the wish of his antagonist predecessor Nyesom Wike.
“I am not afraid of anything. The worst that can happen is for me to leave office.
“Despite everything, victory is sure,” he declared, stating that the struggle is not just about winning but about standing for truth and fighting gallantly.
Governor Fubara declared that the era of deception in Rivers State is over, emphasizing that the state is now determined to take control of its destiny. With Channels TV reports
