The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday took a major step toward stabilizing governance in Rivers State by approving the second reading of a ₦1.48 trillion emergency budget, following the federal government’s declaration of emergency rule in the state.
The bill, titled A Bill to Authorize the Issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State, was presented by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central). It seeks to provide funding for essential government operations in Rivers through December 31, 2025, after the collapse of state institutions earlier this year.
The federal intervention comes on the heels of President Bola Tinubu’s March 18 declaration of emergency rule—an extraordinary move that followed months of political deadlock and judicial nullifications, including the Supreme Court’s invalidation of Rivers State’s 2025 budget.
“We are called by history to act not just as Senators, but as statesmen,” said Bamidele during plenary. “Our duty is to prevent a complete breakdown of governance in one of Nigeria’s most strategic states.”
Under the proposed budget, ₦1.07 trillion is earmarked for capital projects, ₦287.3 billion for recurrent (non-debt) spending, and ₦120.8 billion for debt servicing. The capital-heavy budget structure reflects a federal push to revive infrastructure and maintain essential services in a state reeling from institutional paralysis.
Lawmakers stressed the constitutional urgency of the bill, which was necessitated by the dissolution of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the breakdown of executive-legislative functions. The National Assembly currently exercises temporary legislative authority over Rivers—a rare, precedent-setting development in Nigeria’s federal system.
The emergency funding package prioritizes: Infrastructure: Roads, housing, and urban renewal
Public services: Continuity in education and healthcare Youth and agriculture: Job creation and grassroots development
“This is not about partisanship,” Bamidele emphasized. “It’s about the lives of millions who cannot afford governance failure.”
The bill has been referred to an ad hoc Senate committee on Rivers Emergency Rule, with a mandate to submit its report within two weeks.
Rivers State—home to a major portion of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry—plays a critical role in the national economy. Experts have warned that prolonged instability in the region could trigger wider disruptions across the Niger Delta.
“This is a test case for Nigeria’s handling of constitutional crises at the subnational level,” said Dr. Simisola Adeyanju, a political analyst. “It raises urgent questions about the balance between federal authority and state autonomy.”
If passed and signed into law, the budget will offer a controversial but potentially stabilizing model for future federal responses to state-level collapse.
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