Nigeria’s Senate has approved the ₦1.48 trillion 2025 budget for Rivers State, under the backdrop of emergency governance imposed in the state due to political instability.
The budget was passed following the presentation of a detailed report by an ad hoc Senate committee led by Senate Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele. The committee had been tasked with overseeing the implementation of the emergency rule declared in the oil-rich southern state.
Addressing the Senate, Bamidele defended the constitutional grounds of the emergency rule, citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution. He stressed that the intervention was not politically motivated but aimed at restoring order and maintaining governance in the absence of a functioning state legislature.
“The emergency rule is a constitutional mechanism, not a political shortcut,” he said. “It is a necessary response to uphold peace and governance when traditional institutions are unable to function.”
Senator Bamidele said the committee found the 2025 Appropriation Bill consistent with these aims, noting its prioritisation of capital investment. He revealed that 72 per cent of the budget has been earmarked for capital projects, focusing on infrastructure and economic revitalisation.
The budget also includes a ₦50 billion allocation for pension and gratuity payments, as part of a larger effort to clear outstanding public sector obligations.
Members of the Senate, including Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau and Appropriations Committee Chairman Solomon Adeola, praised the interim administration in Rivers for its fiscal prudence and commitment to development, even under emergency governance.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio thanked the committee for its swift work and reaffirmed the Senate’s support for peace and democratic progress in Rivers State.
“The passing of this budget is a step towards ensuring stability, growth, and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers,” Akpabio concluded.
