The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Oversight of Rivers State has raised serious concerns over key expenditure items contained in the ₦1.48 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill presented by the Rivers State Government.
The Committee, chaired by House Leader Rt. Hon. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, CON, held a budget defence session at the National Assembly on Monday, where members questioned the rationale behind several controversial allocations in the proposed budget.
Among the queried items were ₦24 billion earmarked for the installation of CCTV systems at the Rivers State Government House, ₦30 billion allocated for the procurement of gunboats, and ₦23 billion listed as contingency spending without any detailed justification.
Hon. Ihonvbere emphasized that the session was necessary to promote transparency and ensure that public funds are directed toward sustainable development and accountability. He also criticized the decision of the Rivers State Government to undertake projects that fall under federal jurisdiction without formal agreement or reimbursement plans, warning that such actions must be backed by law and clear fiscal rationale.
As part of its oversight mandate, the Committee issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the Rivers State Government to provide:
A detailed breakdown and justification of the queried expenditure items;
A copy of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF);
Full records of federal allocations and internally generated revenue (IGR) from January to June 2025, including recent IGR trends;
Legal and administrative documentation on the management of Local Government funds;
Proof of financial transfers to each of the 23 local government areas;
All documents related to the Airforce Base Agreement referenced during the budget presentation.
“We want to ensure that we promote accountability and that the interests of the people, no matter how remote they are from the state capital, are protected,” Rt. Hon. Ihonvbere said. “Be rest assured that we are all on the same side in terms of getting Rivers working again.”
He also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his intervention in restoring calm between the previously suspended executive and legislative arms of the Rivers State Government.
Responding on behalf of the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), Mr. Andrew Nweke, Special Adviser on Strategy and Policy, clarified that many items in the budget were inherited and based on prior needs assessments. He explained that the ₦30 billion for gunboats is meant to support security operations in the state’s waterways, while the ₦23 billion contingency fund is to address emergencies such as flooding. He also defended the ₦24 billion CCTV allocation as vital for modernizing security infrastructure at the Government House.
Mr. Nweke assured lawmakers that all requested documents would be submitted promptly to aid the legislative review process.
The Ad-hoc Committee reaffirmed the National Assembly’s constitutional role in fiscal oversight and urged the Rivers State Government to cooperate fully to ensure good governance and transparency during the ongoing transitional administration.
It would be recalled that the House of Representatives had on March 20, 2025, ratified the State of Emergency declared by President Tinubu in Rivers State. The approval, which invoked Sections 11(4) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), authorized the National Assembly to assume legislative powers of the Rivers State House of Assembly in the interest of restoring governance and public order.
The House has reiterated its commitment to democratic accountability and the protection of the rights and welfare of the people of Rivers State.
