The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Rivers State has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the state's Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), demanding a comprehensive breakdown of the ₦1.48 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly.
During a budget defense session held in Abuja, the committee, chaired by House Majority Leader Hon. Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), raised serious concerns over several high-value allocations in the proposed budget. Among the most contentious items were: ₦24 billion earmarked for CCTV installation in the Government House, ₦30 billion allocated for the purchase of gunboats, ₦23 billion set aside as contingency reserves.
Hon. Ihonvbere emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, stating, “We need additional details for these allocations. The people of Rivers State deserve to know how their resources are being managed, especially in a time of economic strain.”
The committee also requested the submission of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), a legally required document that should precede any budget presentation. Additionally, lawmakers demanded:
A detailed report on the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) over the past three months
Clarification on transfers to local governments
Justification for state funds allocated to federal projects without reimbursement agreements.
In response, Mr. Andrew Nweke, Senior Special Assistant on Strategy and Policy, who represented the administrator, explained that many of the budgetary items were inherited and based on a needs assessment conducted by implementation agencies. He defended the allocations, citing the state’s unique security and environmental challenges, including frequent flooding and insecurity on waterways.