By Enekorogha Godbless
The Rivers State House of Assembly has given Governor Siminalayi Fubara a 48-hour deadline to submit the 2025 budget for legislative approval. This demand was made during the assembly's sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday, March 3, 2025.
The lawmakers' request comes after the Supreme Court's recent ruling, which declared Martin Amaewhule and his group legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This judgment has brought an end to the leadership crisis that had divided the house for months.
Governor Fubara had earlier signed the ₦1.1 trillion 2025 budget into law on January 2, 2025. However, the Supreme Court's ruling has altered the situation, and the lawmakers are now seeking to review the budget.
In their first sitting following the judgment, the lawmakers requested that Governor Fubara present the budget, titled "Budget of Inclusive Growth and Development." The Supreme Court also directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to withhold allocations to Rivers State for disobeying court orders and nullified the local government elections conducted in the state last year.
The nullification of the local government elections has significant implications for the state. In response to the court's ruling, Governor Fubara directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct fresh local government elections.
In a state broadcast on Sunday, Governor Fubara stated, "Furthermore, given the outlawing of caretaker arrangements in the local government system, I hereby direct the Heads of Local Government Administration to immediately take over the administration of the 23 local government councils pending the conduct of fresh elections by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission."
The governor also instructed the outgoing local government chairmen to formally hand over the levers of power to the Heads of Local Government Administration by Monday, March 3, 2025. This move is aimed at restoring order and ensuring compliance with the Supreme Court's ruling.
The 48-hour ultimatum issued by the lawmakers is a clear indication of their determination to ensure that the budget is presented and approved by them. The people of Rivers State will be watching closely to see how the situation unfolds.
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