The Senate on Thursday revealed that nearly 85 per cent of the N1.48tn 2025 budget submitted by the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Adm Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), was originally prepared by the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara before the emergency rule was declared.
The Chairman of the Senate ad hoc committee on emergency governance in Rivers, Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this during a budget defence session with Ibas and top officials of the state government at the National Assembly.
“In the last three weeks, we’ve reviewed this budget in detail and engaged directly with the sole administrator and key members of his team — including the Accountant General, the Permanent Secretary of Finance, the Budget Director, and the Planning Director — all of whom retained their positions after the emergency rule began.
“Our findings show that at least 85 per cent of the submitted estimates were drawn up under the Fubara administration. Only 15 per cent was added by the current administrator to accommodate new projects,” Bamidele said.
The committee also revealed that Ibas had requested a N50bn supplementary budget to address outstanding pensions and gratuities, a move he said the Senate was considering.
“Part of the urgent need is to inject N50bn to settle pension liabilities and enhance peace in Rivers State.
“The administrator is passionate about it, and we agree — governance is not just about roads and infrastructure. It’s also about ensuring those who have served the state receive their due,” Bamidele said.
He added that over 70 per cent of the budget was earmarked for capital projects — a move the Senate described as commendable and urged other states to emulate.
“This shows a clear commitment to development and infrastructure, rather than recurrent expenses,” he said.
Earlier, the Senate committee had pledged to closely track the 2025 budget disbursement and intensify oversight on its implementation as the emergency rule in Rivers State continues.
