Gov Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State presented a N1.18 trillion budget proposal for 2025 to a factional House of Assembly comprising only three lawmakers on Monday, December 30.
The move mirrored Fubara’s approach last year when he bypassed the 27-member faction loyal to his predecessor and estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has been divided since October 2023, following a fallout between Fubara and Wike.
In his address, Fubara said the budget, titled “Budget of Inclusive Growth and Development,” aims to achieve sustainable economic growth, accelerate development, and improve residents’ living standards.
“The total projected revenue for Rivers State for the 2025 fiscal year is N1,188,962,739,932.36.
“Two components of the budget are constituted as follows: recurrent expenditure of N462,254,153,418.98; capital expenditure of N678,088,433,692.03; planning reserve of N35,688,864,931.16; and a closing balance of N12,931,287,890.19.
“This gives a recurrent/capital expenditure ratio of 44:56 per cent, indicating the sincere commitment of our administration to both infrastructural and human capital development of our people and state.”
Fubara allocated nearly N31 billion for agricultural development and youth support programs to tackle unemployment.
On education, the governor proposed over N63 billion, representing 9.3% of the budget.
“With this, we shall access all outstanding matching grants from the Universal Basic Education Commission to rehabilitate, equip and furnish dilapidated public primary and junior secondary schools, and continue to provide free basic education to our children.
“We will also rehabilitate, equip and furnish as many senior secondary schools as possible across the state, including the provision of new classrooms, perimeter fencing, water and electricity, to provide a conducive environment for effective teaching and learning to take place,” he said.
For health, Fubara proposed N97.750 billion, representing 14.4% of the budget, to complete zonal hospitals, an upgraded neuropsychiatric hospital, and a new general hospital in Rumuigbo.
On infrastructure, the governor earmarked over N195 billion for ongoing and new road projects.
“In social development and investments, Mr Speaker, we have proposed to spend N15.4 billion to advance youth and gender empowerment, jobs and wealth creation, sports development, and social inclusion,” he added.
The Speaker of the three-member Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo, praised Fubara for increasing the state’s internally generated revenue by over N100 billion and assured legislative support for the governor’s developmental goals.
However, the Rivers State APC criticized the governor’s decision to present the budget to the three-member Assembly while ignoring the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers.
In an interview, Rivers APC Publicity Secretary Chibuike Ikenga accused Fubara of violating court orders.
“I think the trajectory is a continuum where a case is sub judice and the government of Rivers State is continuing to act in disobedience to court processes and procedures.
“It is expected that having disobeyed the decision of the high court and the decision of the appellate court, we await the final decision from the Supreme Court on who is the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“Our party, the APC, expects the state government to obey the judicial pronouncement and positions and await the determination of these issues before the final court so that we can have a reprieve and begin to develop our state. That the government is disobeying those positions is unfortunate and does not encourage peacebuilding and development,” he said.