President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally submitted a ₦1.48 trillion budget proposal for Rivers State to the National Assembly, requesting approval for the 2025 fiscal year.
This submission follows the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State in March 2025, which led to the suspension of the elected state government and the appointment of a federal sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs.
In his letter to the National Assembly, President Tinubu noted that the absence of a functioning state legislature grants the federal parliament constitutional authority to approve expenditures for Rivers State under the emergency rule.
Also Read: Tinubu Requests Senate Approval for 2025 FCT Budget
The proposed budget allocates ₦324 billion for infrastructure, ₦166 billion for healthcare, including ₦5 billion for free essential medicines, ₦75.6 billion for education, and ₦31.4 billion for agriculture. The plan aims to generate approximately 6,000 jobs through these initiatives.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the president’s letter during Thursday’s plenary and referred the budget to the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Emergency Rule in Rivers State for review. The committee is expected to report back swiftly.
This budget marks the first major financial plan under the emergency administration led by Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other state officials.
