The Senate has approved the 2025 budget for Rivers State, totaling ₦1.485 trillion. The decision was reached on Tuesday, June 25, following the consideration of a report submitted by the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State during a Committee of Supply session.
The bill authorizes the issuance of ₦1,485,662,592,442 from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund to finance government operations and projects for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025.
The approved budget includes ₦120.8 billion allocated for debt servicing, ₦287.38 billion for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, and ₦1.077 trillion earmarked for capital projects.
While backing the budget’s passage, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) raised concerns over the ₦50 billion allocation for unpaid pensions and gratuities. He urged the Ad-Hoc Committee to enforce strict oversight to ensure the funds reach legitimate pensioners without delay.
With Senate approval secured, the budget will now proceed to the next phase for implementation.
This development follows President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in Rivers State’s political crisis. In May, the President suspended the state’s House of Assembly and forwarded the 2025 Appropriation Bill for National Assembly consideration.
The move came after escalating tensions between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Amid the crisis, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers on March 18, suspending both the governor and state legislators. He appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as interim administrator to oversee state affairs for an initial six-month period.
