The Nigerian Senate has passed the 2025 budget proposal of N1.48 trillion for Rivers State to second reading, marking a key step in the ongoing emergency administration of the state.

The budget, transmitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu on 22 May, was read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. It is designed to authorise critical spending in the areas of infrastructure, education, agriculture, and healthcare for the 2025 fiscal year.

During Wednesday’s plenary, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), led the debate on the general principles of the budget bill, urging senators to support its passage in light of the emergency situation in the state.

According to the breakdown, the proposed budget allocates N287 billion for recurrent expenditure, N1.072 trillion for capital expenditure, and N120.8 billion for debt servicing.

Further details reveal that:

  • N324 billion is earmarked for infrastructure, covering both ongoing and new projects;
  • N166 billion is allocated to the health sector, including N5 billion for free drugs to treat malaria and other common illnesses;
  • N75.6 billion is dedicated to the education sector; and
  • N31.4 billion is proposed for agricultural development.

In his communication to the National Assembly, President Tinubu stated that the budget is expected to stimulate economic growth and generate an estimated 6,000 jobs through strategic investments in these sectors.

The Senate President subsequently referred the bill to the ad-hoc committee on the Rivers State emergency administration, directing the committee to report back within two weeks.

The 18-member committee, chaired by Senator Bamidele, had on Tuesday pledged to ensure fairness and adherence to democratic norms in reviewing the emergency budget. The committee, inaugurated on 6 May, has also scheduled a session for the state’s sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, to appear and defend the budget before a joint ad-hoc committee of both the Senate and House of Representatives.

Recall that in March, President Tinubu suspended all elected officials in Rivers State, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and appointed Mr Ibas, a retired Chief of Naval Staff, as sole administrator for an initial six-month period. The appointment was subsequently ratified by both chambers of the National Assembly in line with Section 305(2) of the Nigerian Constitution.

The House of Representatives had earlier inaugurated its corresponding committee on 15 April, chaired by House Leader Julius Ihonvbere, to oversee the emergency administration in the state.

Follow Our WhatsApp Channel ______________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation ______________________________________________________________________ ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR LAWYERS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE Reimagine your practice with the power of AI “...this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic.” — Ohio Books Ltd Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe, Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. Bonus: Get a FREE eBook titled “How to Use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion” with every purchase.

How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.benadigwe.com

Ebook Version: Access directly online at: https://selar.com/prv626

________________________________________________________________________ The Law And Practice Of Redundancy In Nigeria: A Practitioner’s Guide, Authored By A Labour & Employment Law Expert Bimbo Atilola _______________________________________________________________________ New Year Promo: Get Five Maritime Law Books For N150,000 — 63% Discount The promotion, which commenced on January 8 and runs until February 8, 2026, offers five core maritime law books authored by Dr. Emeka Akabogu, SAN, ordinarily valued at N405,000, for just N150,000 — a 63% discount. Interested buyers can place their orders through the following channels: Phone: 0704 329 3271 Online Store: https://paystack.shop/aa-bookstore Website: www.akabogulaw.com ______________________________________________________________________