Abuja: The House of Representatives has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Sole Administration of Rivers, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, to submit the breakdown of major items in the state’s 2025 budget. The Chairman Ad hoc Committee on Rivers, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere (APC-Edo), announced this directive during a budget defense session in Abuja, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the committee, led by Ihonvbere who is also the Majority Leader of the house, has scrutinized the N1.48 trillion budget presented by the sole administrator and identified several concerns. The committee has requested the submission of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) accompanied by a legal document that should precede the budget presentation.
Ihonvbere questioned the allocation of N24 billion for CCTV cameras intended for installation in the state’s government house, seeking a detailed breakdown of this expenditure. He also raised concerns over the allocation of N30 billion for the purchase of gun boats and N23 billion for contingency reserves, demanding justifications for these allocations. Furthermore, the committee observed allocations of state funds to existing federal projects without agreements for refunds from the Federal Government, among other issues.
The committee seeks additional details on the allocations and requests information on the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) over the last three months. This data is necessary to evaluate financial flows and assess the budget’s deficit in terms of financing and project implementation. Details of transfers to local governments are also requested to understand the management of local government funds.
Ihonvbere assured that the requested documents must be submitted within 48 hours, emphasizing the committee’s commitment to accountability and the protection of the interests of the people of Rivers. He also commended President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in resolving disputes between the suspended governor and the legislature in the state.
Earlier, Ibok-Ete Ibas, represented by Senior Special Assistant on Strategy and Policy, Mr. Andrew Nweke, explained that the administration inherited many of the budget items. He stated that the budget reflects the interests of Rivers people and aligns with needs assessments by implementation agencies. Nweke justified the N30 billion allocation for gun boats as support for security agencies combating insecurity on waterways and the N23 billion contingency fund as necessary for addressing challenges like floods and insecurity.
Nweke affirmed that the additional documents requested by the committee will be provided to facilitate the legislative process.
