Despite Fubara’s Readiness To Present 2025 Budget, Rivers Assembly Adjourns Indefinitely

The Rivers State House of Assembly, on Friday, adjourned sine die, thereby making it impossible for Governor Siminalayi Fubara to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill of the State before the lawmakers next week.

The decision of the House to adjourn indefinitely after passing three Bills into law, came less than 24 hours after Governor Fubara wrote another letter to the lawmakers, informing them lof his intention to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the House for consideration and approval.

The governor had in the letter he personally signed, dated March 13, 2025, and addressed to the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, said he intended to present the budget on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, or any other day within the month of March that the House may deem fit.

He stated that the decision to re-present the proposed 2025 budget was in compliance with the Supreme Court judgement and in response to the lawmakers’ call to him to re-present the fiscal document.

Before adjourning sine die, the lawmakers passed into law three bills; the Rivers State House of Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Bill, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Bill and the Rivers State Local Government Bill, 2025.

The Rivers State House of Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Bill is a legislation to grant the Rivers State House of Assembly the power, privileges and immunity to carry out its legislative duties. It was thereafter referred to the House Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative input.

On its part, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Bill is to repeal the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law No. 2 of 2018, and to re- enact it to provide for the establishment, composition and functions of the Commission. It was referred to the House Committee on Commissions and Agencies for further legislative input.

Also, the Rivers State Local Government Bill 2025, is for a law to repeal the existing Rivers State Local Government Laws of 2018, 2023 and 2024, and to re-enact a new Local Government Law. It was committed to the House Committee on Local Government further legislative input.