Wike’s loyalists kick as Fubara presents N1.18tn budget to three-man Assembly

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Monday, presented a N1.18tn budget estimate for 2025 to the factional state House of Assembly comprising three lawmakers.

The incident was reminiscent of Fubara’s conduct last year, when he boycotted the 27-member factional assembly loyal to his predecessor and estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike.

In an interview, the opposition All Progressives Congress in Rivers State accused Fubara of violating the law.

Following the disintegration of Fubara and Wike’s friendship, the Rivers State House of Assembly became factionalised in October 2023.

At the height of the turmoil, Fubara survived an impeachment attempt by pro-Wike members, who also declared their departure from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress.

Since then, Fubara has labelled the 27 lawmakers, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, as illegitimate, claiming he will have nothing to do with them.

On Monday, he presented the N1.18 trillion 2025 budget to the three-man factional Assembly, which was led by Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo.

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The Assembly also includes the Deputy Speaker, Adolphus Orubienimigha, and the House Leader, Sokari Goodboy Sokari.

The budget presentation was held at the Administrative Block of the Government House in Port Harcourt.

Fubara stated in his address that the budget, dubbed the “Budget of Inclusive Growth and Development,” will be implemented to promote long-term economic growth, expedite development, and improve citizens’ living conditions.

He said, “The total projected revenue for Rivers State for the 2025 fiscal year is N1,188,962,739,932.36.

Two components of the budget are constituted as follows: recurrent expenditure of N462,254,153,418.98; capital expenditure of N678,088,433,692.03; a planning reserve of N35,688,864,931.16; and a closing balance of N12,931,287,890.19.

“This gives a recurrent/capital expenditure ratio of 44:56 percent, indicating the sincere commitment of our administration to both infrastructural and human capital development of our people and state.”

Fubara stated that over N31 billion had been given to fund agricultural development measures as well as programs to help Rivers youths overcome unemployment.

On education, the governor recommended spending more than N63 billion, or 9.3 percent of the budget.

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“With this, we shall access all outstanding matching grants from the Universal Basic Education Commission to rehabilitate, equip, and furnish dilapidated public primary and junior secondary schools and continue to provide free basic education to our children.

“We will also rehabilitate, equip, and furnish as many senior secondary schools as possible across the state, including the provision of new classrooms, perimeter fencing, water, and electricity, to provide a conducive environment for effective teaching and learning to take place,” he said.

Fubara stated that with the projected N97.750 billion for the health sector, which accounts for 14.4% of the budget, all zonal hospitals, the enhanced neuropsychiatric hospital, and the new general hospital in Rumuigbo, which is under construction, will be completed.

On road and transport infrastructure, the governor stated that over N195 billion had been set aside to complete all ongoing road projects and launch new ones.

“In social development and investments, Mr. Speaker, we have proposed spending N15.4bn to advance youth and gender empowerment, jobs and wealth creation, sports development, and social inclusion,” he said.

The Speaker, Oko-Jumbo, praised the governor for recording a gain in IGR of more than N100 billion, noting that it also demonstrated how appealing Rivers’ business climate has become.

He vowed the legislature’s support for the executive to keep the governor focused on delivering democratic dividends to the people. However, the Rivers APC, led by chairman Tony Okocha, denounced Fubara’s choice to deliver the budget to three MPs while excluding 27 pro-Wike lawmakers.

In an interview with our correspondent, the Rivers APC Publicity Secretary, Chibuike Ikenga, accused the governor of violating court orders.

He said, “I think the trajectory is a continuum where a case is sub judice and the government of Rivers State is continuing to act in disobedience to court processes and procedures.

“It is expected that, having disobeyed the decision of the high court and the decision of the appellate court, we await the final decision from the Supreme Court on who is the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“Our party, the APC, expects the state government to obey the judicial pronouncement and positions and await the determination of these issues before the final court so that we can have a reprieve and begin to develop our state.

“That the government is disobeying those positions is unfortunate and does not encourage peacebuilding and development.”

Wike’s loyalists kick as Fubara presents N1.18tn budget to three-man Assembly