By Agboola Aluko | April 5, 2025
T he Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok Ete Ekwe Ibas, has announced plans to present a new 2025 appropriation bill aimed at addressing critical sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Ibas made this disclosure on Thursday during a meeting with a delegation from the Rivers caucus in the National Assembly at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
He emphasized that the new budget will also focus on job creation and technological advancements to enhance public services and drive economic growth within the state.
“Since the Supreme Court verdict on the state’s budget, we have acted swiftly and decided to put together a new budget that reflects our commitment to healthcare, education, social services, and continued infrastructural development. We have worked diligently to ensure that the process is transparent, inclusive, and, most importantly, expedited.”
“Our goal is to ensure that we do not lose any more time in making the necessary investments that will improve the lives of citizens,” Ibas stated.
The administrator further noted that collaboration with lawmakers is essential to ensure Rivers State remains on the path of progress and lasting peace for future generations.
Rivers’ Budget Controversy
The budget crisis in Rivers State traces back to 2023, when the state’s House of Assembly was split into two factions.
In December 2023, Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended governor of Rivers, submitted an N800 billion budget proposal for 2024 to a five-member House of Assembly led by Edison Ehie. The bill was signed into law just a day after submission, sparking legal and political disputes that have since stalled the state's development.
With the presentation of a new budget under Ibas’s leadership, many stakeholders are hopeful that Rivers State will regain stability and accelerate its development agenda.
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