Senate committee on Rivers emergency rule pledges fairness in budget consideration

The Senate Committee tasked with overseeing the emergency rule in Rivers State has pledged to ensure fairness and adherence to democratic principles as it begins the process of considering the state’s 2025 budget.

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The 18-member committee chaired by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central), resolved that despite the ongoing emergency rule in Rivers State, democratic governance would not be suspended.

Mr Bamidele said this after the inaugural meeting of the committee members at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja on Tuesday.

As part of its resolutions, the committee chairperson also announced that the sole administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, will appear before a joint ad-hoc committee of both the Senate and House of Representatives to defend the proposed 2025 budget before it is considered for approval.

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He however, did not disclose the date the budget defence will hold.

“It is our understanding with our colleagues in the House of Representatives that the sole administrator and other relevant functionaries of the state will all appear before the joint ad-hoc committee of both chambers of the National Assembly when it is time for them to defend the 2025 the budget at the National Assembly,”

“The inaugural meeting is a necessary ritual to enable the committee carry out its assignment and mandate. The committee will guarantee that the democratic rule will continue to function in Rivers State despite the declaration of emergency rule.

“The Senate is committed to the rule of law as well as the tenets of democracy. I am also confident in the pedigree of the members of this ad-hoc committee to deliver on the role of oversighting the activities of the sole administrator of Rivers State,” Mr Bamidele added.

Rivers budget defence

Mr Bamidele said the committee also finalised a workplan and timetable to guide the budget defence process. Other key state officials expected to participate include the Accountant-General of Rivers State, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and relevant economic officials.

“The committee has just finalised on its workplan as well as the timetable that will ensure proper budget defence by the sole administrator of Rivers State. The budget defence will involve other state officials of the state, especially the Accountant-General of Rivers State, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and relevant officials in charge of the economy of the state

“As much as possible, the National Assembly will ensure propriety in the discharge of our oversight functions. We will also ensure that governance does not suffer in Rivers State during the period of emergency rule,” Mr Bamidele further assured Nigerians.

In March, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended all its elected officials, including the governor Siminilayi Fubara.

The president also appointed Mr Ibas, a retired chief of naval staff, as the sole administrator of the state for an initial period of six months.T

The appointment was later ratified by both chambers of the National Assembly in accordance with Section 305(2) of the Nigerian Constitution.

The South-south Governors’ Forum earlier opposed the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers.

The Chairperson of the Forum, Douye Diri, who is also the governor of Bayelsa State said the political situation in Rivers did not deteriorate to a point where it required an emergency rule, considering the provisions of Section 305(3) of the Nigerian Constitution.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) also condemned the emergency declaration and the appointment of Mr Ibas, argueing that the developments were unconstitutional.

READ ALSO: Senate constitutes committee to oversee Rivers sole administrator

The association maintained that President Tinubu lacked the authority to remove an elected governor from office and therefore protested that it would relocate its annual conference earlier scheduled for Port Harcourt to Enugu State.

The House of Representatives inaugurated its committee on 15 April chaired by the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, while the lawmakers were on Easter and Eid-el-Fitr holiday. The Senate established its own committee on 6 May.

Last Thursday, President Tinubu requested National Assembly’s approval of the 2025 Rivers State N1.48 trillion budget, setting the stage for what could be a critical test of constitutional norms and legislative oversight under emergency rule.