By Ayo Kehinde
The Senate has pledged to exercise strict oversight over the ₦1.48 trillion 2025 appropriation bill submitted for Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
The President, in a letter dated May 22, transmitted the budget to the National Assembly following the declaration of emergency rule in the state on March 18.
Shortly after the declaration, the Senate constituted an 18-member ad-hoc committee to oversee developments in Rivers State.
Speaking at the committee’s inaugural meeting on Tuesday, Senate Leader and Chairman of the Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed that the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd), would appear before a joint session of the National Assembly to defend the proposed budget alongside other key state officials.
“The National Assembly is committed to working closely with our colleagues in the House of Representatives to ensure the people of Rivers State are not shortchanged during this transitional period,” Bamidele said.
He confirmed that the budget, which was formally transmitted to the National Assembly by the Sole Administrator through the Presidency, has been referred to the committee for detailed scrutiny.
According to him, a structured timetable and comprehensive work plan have been adopted to guide the budget defence process.
Joining Vice Admiral Ibas for the defence will be the Accountant-General of Rivers State, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and other relevant officials involved in the state’s financial and economic management.
Bamidele stressed that transparency and accountability would guide the committee’s work.
“Our objective is to ensure financial propriety and the continuity of governance in Rivers State. Even under emergency rule, democratic institutions must remain functional,” he said.
He also expressed confidence in the capacity of the ad-hoc committee members to deliver on their mandate with diligence and integrity.
“This inaugural meeting marks a critical step in our oversight responsibilities. We must ensure that governance proceeds without disruption and that public funds are managed responsibly,” he added.
