Rivers lawmakers reject Fubara’s N100,000 Christmas bonus

The Rivers State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, rejected a N100,000 “Christmas gift” credited to the accounts of lawmakers on the orders of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, describing the transfer as unsolicited and unlawful.

In a statement on Tuesday, signed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Enemi George, the lawmakers said public funds must follow due process, including legislative approval.

The statement, titled “Return of Unsolicited and Unapproved N100,000 Transferred to the Personal Accounts of Honourable Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the Executive Governor of Rivers State”, noted that the funds were immediately returned.

“Today, 30th December 2025, honourable members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly received bank credit alerts of the sum of N100,000 each. The said unsolicited and unapproved amount was transferred on the instructions of the governor,” the statement read.

George accused the governor of consistently drawing from the state consolidated revenue account without legislative approval since assuming office in 2023, in defiance of the Supreme Court and the Constitution.

He added: “We are aware of staff who connive with the governor to contravene the constitution and laws of Rivers State. Their actions are unlawful. We assure the good people of Rivers State that we will not relent in performing our constitutional duties.”

Civil servants in the state, by contrast, received similar Christmas bonuses following standard approvals, highlighting the House’s concern that the transfer to lawmakers bypassed due process.

The House had adjourned plenary until January 26, 2026. Governor Fubara is yet to present the 2026 appropriation bill or submit the names of commissioner-nominees, operating since his return from suspension with only eight commissioners unaffected by the Supreme Court ruling recognizing Martin Amaewhule as Speaker.