In a rare constitutional move, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted the 2025 Appropriation Bill for Rivers State to the National Assembly, seeking federal legislative approval in light of the ongoing emergency rule and the absence of a functioning state House of Assembly.
The request, formally presented during Wednesday’s plenary, was read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. In his accompanying letter, President Tinubu cited Regulation 4, subsection 2(f), of the Emergency Rule Provisions, which mandates federal authorization for spending from a state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund when its legislature is incapacitated.
“Rivers State is currently under emergency rule, proclaimed and duly gazetted in March 2025. Given the legislative vacuum, the National Assembly is expected to act in lieu of the state assembly,” the President wrote.
The 2025 budget proposal for Rivers State totals ₦1.481 trillion, with strategic allocations to key sectors aimed at reviving the state’s economy and restoring public confidence. Infrastructure leads the spending plan with ₦324 billion for ongoing and new projects. The health sector receives ₦166 billion—including ₦5 billion dedicated to free treatment of malaria and other prevalent illnesses. Education is allocated ₦75.6 billion, while ₦31.4 billion is earmarked for agriculture, with a view to enhancing food security and rural livelihoods.
According to the President, the budget is projected to create approximately 6,000 jobs, particularly through expanded investments in agriculture and infrastructure.
“I trust the Senate will grant this bill the urgent and favourable consideration it deserves,” Tinubu concluded.
Senate President Akpabio has since referred the proposal to the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Emergency Rule in Rivers State, charging it to scrutinize the document and present its findings without delay.
This development marks a significant constitutional intervention, underscoring the federal government’s role in maintaining governance continuity under exceptional circumstances. While rare, such legislative oversight is permitted under Nigeria’s democratic framework during states of emergency.
3 Comments
You made some nice points there. I did a search on the subject and found most persons will consent with your site.
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.
fascinate este conteúdo. Gostei muito. Aproveitem e vejam este site. informações, novidades e muito mais. Não deixem de acessar para descobrir mais. Obrigado a todos e até a próxima. 🙂