Despite his suspension and the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State, the Nigerian Senate has confirmed that embattled Governor Siminalayi Fubara was responsible for drafting over 85 percent of the state’s 2025 budget.
Chairman of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Emergency Governance in Rivers State, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, revealed this on Thursday during a budget defence session with the state’s sole administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.
The committee, which had spent three weeks reviewing the budget submitted by Ibas, found that the original estimates were largely inherited from Fubara’s administration.
“Only 15 percent of the budget reflects additions made by the current administrator to accommodate new projects,” Bamidele told lawmakers.
This disclosure comes amid growing scrutiny over the legality and direction of governance in the oil-rich state following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency and the appointment of Ibas to oversee state affairs.
Interestingly, Ibas had earlier told the Senate that his administration was working with the expectation of Governor Fubara’s eventual return.
He has also requested a ₦50 billion supplementary budget to address pending pensions and gratuities.
