Rivers Lawmakers Reject Governor Fubara’s ‘N100,000 Christmas Bonus’

Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have rejected the N100,000 Christmas Bonus credited to their personal bank accounts, allegedly approved by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, describing the payment as unsolicited and unapproved.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the chairman, House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Enemi George, said the lawmakers had commenced steps to return the funds, insisting that all public expenditure must follow due process, including legislative approval.

The statement, titled ‘Return of Unsolicited and Unapproved One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000) Transferred to the Personal Accounts of Honourable Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara’, noted that the transfers were made without the consent of the legislature.

“Today, the 30th day of December 2025, honourable members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly received bank credit alerts of the sum of one hundred thousand naira (N100,000) each,” the statement read.

“The said unsolicited and unapproved amount was transferred on the instructions of the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, to the personal accounts of members.

“Upon discovery of these unsolicited and unapproved transfers, honourable members of the House took immediate steps to formally return the said funds to the account of the Rivers State Government.”

George further accused the governor of consistently withdrawing from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Account without legislative approval since assuming office in 2023.

“As an institution established by law and guided strictly by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Rivers State House of Assembly maintains that all public expenditures must follow due process, including legislative approval,” he said.

“The governor, since assumption of office in 2023, has consistently drawn from the Consolidated Revenue Account of Rivers State without legislative approval, despite repeated warnings from the House, the judgment of the Supreme Court, and in defiance of the Constitution and the principles of separation of powers.”

He also warned civil servants allegedly aiding such actions to desist, describing the conduct as unlawful.

“With the leave of Mr Speaker and the entire House, I use this medium to once again draw the attention of all staff of the Rivers State Government who connive with the governor and others to contravene the Constitution and laws of Rivers State to the fact that we have become aware of their unlawful conduct,” George stated.

“We assure the good people of Rivers State that we will not relent in the performance of our constitutional duties.”

LEADERSHIP recalls that the House had adjourned plenary to January 26, 2026. Governor Fubara was yet to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill or submit names of commissioner-nominees to the Assembly.

Since his return from suspension following the lifting of emergency rule in the state, the governor has been operating with eight commissioners who were not affected by the Supreme Court judgement recognising Martin Amaewhule as the authentic Speaker of the House of Assembly.