“Tinubu Submits ₦1.481 Trillion 2025 Rivers Budget to National Assembly Amid State Emergency”

Abuja, Nigeria – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally transmitted the 2025 budget estimate for Rivers State to the National Assembly, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing federal oversight of the oil-rich state. The ₦1.481 trillion budget proposal was presented during Thursday’s plenary session of the House of Representatives by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, confirming the federal government’s expanded role in the state’s affairs.

This development follows a series of dramatic political interventions by the presidency, most notably the March 18, 2025, suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly. The unprecedented move was accompanied by the declaration of a state of emergency, citing a deteriorating political climate marked by infighting, legislative gridlock, and governance paralysis.

With Rivers State effectively under federal control, Tinubu appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), as the sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs. Ibas has since assumed full executive and legislative authority in the region, pending the resolution of the ongoing political crisis.

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Presidential Budget Submission Amidst Turbulence

The submission of a state budget by the president to the National Assembly is a rare occurrence in Nigeria’s democratic history, underscoring the gravity of the crisis in Rivers. Under normal circumstances, a state governor, in collaboration with the State House of Assembly, is responsible for preparing and presenting the annual budget. However, the suspension of state executive and legislative functions created a constitutional vacuum that the federal government has since filled.

According to Speaker Abbas, the President’s letter accompanying the budget outlines the strategic priorities of the 2025 fiscal plan for Rivers, including infrastructure development, security stabilization, oil revenue optimization, and social welfare programs. While further details of the budget breakdown were not disclosed during the plenary, it is expected to allocate significant resources toward peacebuilding, administrative restructuring, and restoring essential services.

Emergency Rule and Constitutional Questions

President Tinubu’s sweeping actions in Rivers State have raised considerable legal and political questions. Critics argue that the suspension of democratically elected officials and imposition of federal control may contravene the constitutional guarantees of state autonomy. However, supporters maintain that the steps were necessary to prevent the collapse of governance and restore order in a state of critical economic importance to Nigeria.

Rivers State, a key contributor to national oil revenues, has seen mounting instability in recent months due to internal party divisions, legislative standoffs, and executive-judiciary disputes. The crisis reportedly escalated to the point where state governance was nearly paralyzed, prompting calls from within and outside the region for decisive federal intervention.

Administrator Ibas’ Role and Expected Impact

Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, now at the helm of the state’s administration, has been tasked with not only stabilizing the region but also implementing the 2025 budget in line with national objectives. His military and administrative background is seen as an asset in managing the complex socio-political and economic terrain of Rivers State.

Observers believe that the success or failure of this interim arrangement could influence how future constitutional crises are handled in Nigeria. For now, Ibas remains the central figure in restoring functionality to Rivers’ institutions, with the National Assembly playing an oversight role in budget execution.

The National Assembly is expected to commence deliberations on the ₦1.481 trillion proposal in the coming days. Lawmakers from Rivers and other states will scrutinize the spending plan, with a focus on ensuring transparency and accountability in a process now driven entirely from Abuja.

Meanwhile, reactions from stakeholders and political figures in Rivers have been mixed. While some see the federal intervention as a stabilizing force, others have decried what they consider an undemocratic encroachment on state sovereignty. Legal experts are also closely watching for possible judicial challenges to the president’s sweeping measures.

As more details emerge about the 2025 budget’s content and intended implementation strategy, all eyes remain on how the federal government will navigate the difficult task of governing a strategic yet politically volatile state.