The Nigerian Senate has advanced the proposed N1.48 trillion budget for Rivers State for the 2025 fiscal year, approving it for a second reading.
The proposal was sent to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, following the emergency rule declared in Rivers State on March 18, 2025.
Senate Leader and Chair of the Ad-hoc Committee on Emergency Rule in Rivers State, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), presented the budget for deliberation.
The proposal outlines three major areas of spending:
N120.8 billion allocated to debt servicing,
N287.4 billion earmarked for recurrent (non-debt) expenditures, and
N1.07 trillion designated for capital projects.
During the debate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan (APC, Ogun West) voiced support for the fiscal plan, emphasizing the budget’s emphasis on infrastructure.
He noted that “over 45% of the allocation is directed toward infrastructure development,” adding that the proposal reflects “a strong commitment to ensuring effective governance and uninterrupted service delivery in the state despite the emergency rule.”
The Senate adopted the budget proposal for second reading through a voice vote and assigned it to the Ad-hoc Committee on Emergency Rule in Rivers State for further evaluation.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio instructed the committee to deliver its findings within two weeks.
In a related development, the Senate confirmed that Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, along with other senior state officials, will appear before the Joint National Assembly Ad-hoc Committee to defend the proposed budget.
At the inaugural meeting of the committee, Senator Bamidele reiterated the Senate’s dedication to protecting democratic principles and legality during the emergency period.
He stated the Senate remains committed to “preserving democratic governance and upholding the rule of law in Rivers State.”
Leading the 18-member committee, Bamidele pledged to safeguard the interests of the people, urging his colleagues to conduct their duties “with diligence and integrity.”
