The River State House of Assembly has given Governor Siminalayi Fubara a strict 48‑hour deadline to present the 2025 appropriation bill, following a Supreme Court ruling that has suspended state allocations until the new budget law is passed.
Lawmakers have assigned the Judiciary Committee the task of reviewing the court’s decision, and Committee Chairman stressed that the governor must submit the bill immediately. “In the interest of the state, we are giving the governor 48 hours to present the appropriation bill as required by the Supreme Court,” a lawmaker explained, warning that any further delay could lead to a crippling financial deadlock.
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In a related move, the Assembly rejected the governor’s directive for 23 council chairmen to step aside, arguing that local government administrators are not legally authorized to manage the third tier of government. This decision has exposed a leadership vacuum, prompting the Assembly to plan amendments to the River State Local Government Law and the River State Independent Electoral Commission Law to align them with the national Electoral Act. Lawmakers believe that these amendments are critical before any fresh local government elections can be held.
Amid mounting political tensions, the Assembly has also announced a three‑month recess starting March 7, 2025. During this period, the House will forward its resolutions to the executive branch in a bid to resolve the budget impasse swiftly.
Despite the heated debate among politicians over the implications of the Supreme Court ruling, local residents in River State report that the overall atmosphere remains calm. A correspondent in Port Harcourt noted that although there were fears of renewed unrest following previous local government disputes, the governor’s recent broadcast ordering council chairmen to step aside has helped ease public concerns.
All eyes are now on Governor Fubara as the 48‑hour deadline approaches, with the hope that his timely submission of the appropriation bill will restore financial stability and pave the way for the state’s progress in 2025.
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