…as Sole Administrator, key officials set to defend budget before joint committee
The Senate has assured Nigerians that it will provide strict oversight of Rivers State’s 2025 budget, despite the ongoing emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu on March 18.
The Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on Emergency Rule in Rivers State, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, gave the assurance during the committee’s inaugural meeting held at the National Assembly complex in Abuja on Tuesday.
Bamidele revealed that the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd), alongside other critical state officials, will be required to appear before a joint session of the National Assembly to defend the state’s 2025 budget.
“The National Assembly is determined to work closely with our counterparts in the House of Representatives to ensure that the people of Rivers State are not shortchanged during this period,” Bamidele said.
He stated that the budget, which was transmitted through the President by the Sole Administrator, has been officially referred to the committee for scrutiny.
According to him, a clear timetable and work plan have been developed to facilitate a robust budget defence process.
Expected to join the Sole Administrator in defending the budget are the Accountant-General of Rivers State, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and other relevant state officials involved in the economic and financial management of the state.
Bamidele emphasized that the National Assembly would uphold transparency and accountability in the oversight process.
READ ALSO: President Tinubu Seeks Senate Approval for ₦1.48trn Rivers State Budget
“Our goal is to ensure financial propriety and uninterrupted governance in Rivers State,” he stressed. “Democratic institutions must function effectively, even under emergency rule.”
The Senate leader further commended the composition of the ad-hoc committee, expressing confidence in the capacity of its members to discharge their responsibilities with diligence and integrity.
“This inaugural meeting is a critical first step. We must ensure that governance in Rivers State continues smoothly, and that funds are properly accounted for,” he added.
He also reminded members of their duty to uphold the rule of law and democratic tenets throughout the oversight process.
The Senate had set up the 18-member committee shortly after the emergency rule was declared by the President, following political instability and a breakdown of governance in Rivers State.
The emergency measures transferred executive functions to the Sole Administrator pending restoration of normalcy.
With growing concerns over how the state’s finances would be managed under the new arrangement, the National Assembly’s involvement is seen as a move to reinforce transparency and avoid financial mismanagement.
The committee is expected to begin budget defence sessions in the coming weeks.