The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retired), alongside other key officials, is scheduled to appear before the Joint National Assembly Ad Hoc Committee to Oversee Emergency Rule in Rivers State.
The purpose of the appearance is to defend the proposed ₦1.48 trillion 2025 budget for the state.
This was revealed by the Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), during the committee’s inaugural meeting held at the New Senate Wing of the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the Senate on Tuesday, the National Assembly reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the people of Rivers State are not denied proper governance or services due to the emergency rule declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18, 2025.
In his letter to both chambers of the National Assembly, President Tinubu requested consideration and approval of the ₦1.48 trillion Appropriation Bill, which will serve as the operational budget for Rivers State under the emergency rule.
The President emphasized that the funds would be allocated to critical sectors such as education, agriculture, and free drug provision, among others.
President Tinubu’s request stems from constitutional provisions requiring the National Assembly to perform legislative functions for any state under emergency rule, especially when its House of Assembly is suspended or non-functional.
Following the declaration of the emergency, Senate President Godswill Akpabio established an 18-member Emergency Rule Committee, led by Senator Bamidele. The committee’s mandate includes overseeing the execution of the state’s emergency governance and ensuring transparency in the appropriation process.
The committee’s inaugural meeting had in attendance notable legislators, including Senate Chief Whip Senator Tahir Munguno, Deputy Chief Whip Senator Peter Nwebonyi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Land Transport Senator Adamu Aliero, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance Senator Sani Musa, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, and Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Senator Oluranti Adebule.
What you should know
Under emergency rule declared in Rivers State, the National Assembly is tasked with legislative oversight.
The ₦1.48 trillion budget proposal will be reviewed and defended before the Emergency Rule Committee as the federal government steps in to ensure governance continuity and service delivery.
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