Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara is set to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly, led by Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo.
Oko-Jumbo read the Governor’s request to present the bill during today’s plenary. This marks Fubara’s second budget presentation since taking office in May 2023, both clouded by legislative disputes.
Last year, Fubara’s inaugural budget was presented to a four-member Assembly recognised by the State High Court amidst defections and legal challenges. Twenty-seven members, including ex-Speaker Martin Amaewhule, had defected from the PDP to the APC, triggering a crisis.
Amid legal interventions, including input from President Tinubu, the Assembly saw shifts in leadership. The Oko-Jumbo-led House asserts legitimacy under constitutional provisions, while Amaewhule and defectors maintain a parallel session opposing government policies.
Courts have invalidated the 2024 budget and briefly halted federal allocation, further entrenching the political crisis. The 2025 budget presentation continues against this turbulent backdrop.
