Senate Passes Rivers N1.48trn ‘Emergency’ Budget For Second Reading

A bill seeking to authorise the issuance of N1.48 trillion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for Rivers State’s 2025 fiscal year has passed its second reading in the Senate.

The bill titled: ‘Bill for an Act to Authorise the Issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State’ was read on the floor of the Senate by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, during plenary.

The proposed spending plan allocated ₦120.8 billion for debt servicing, ₦287.3 billion for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, and ₦1.07 trillion for capital expenditure.

Bamidele stated that the budget was designed to ensure smooth government operations under an emergency governance structure in the state.

He further underscored that the proposal aims to promote inclusive growth and development, with a focus on improving residents’ standards of living.

In his contribution, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan said there need for the budget to be legislated immediately so that the people of Rivers could feel the presence of government.

He said, “Mr. President, I don’t know under what topic this document is christened, but I can see it is about a budget for the state of emergency.

“I hereby support that the budget be passed for second reading so that the people of Rivers can feel the presence of government.”

The bill has now been transferred to the ad hoc committee on Rivers emergency rule to supervise and revert in two weeks.

President Bola Tinubu had last week written to the National Assembly, seeking the consideration and approval of ₦1.48 trillion Appropriation bill for Rivers State, citing the ongoing state of emergency imposed in the oil-rich state since March 2025.

Tinubu, in the letter read at plenary by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, explained that when approved, the money will be used by the Emergency Rule Government of Rivers State to provide for education, agriculture, the provision of free drugs, and others.