In the midst of a political crisis, the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by factional Speaker Martin Amaewhule, has halted all expenditures of the state government until Governor Siminalayi Fubara re-presents the controversial 2024 budget.
The Assembly gave Governor Fubara a seven-day ultimatum to comply with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s order to re-present the budget. This ultimatum expired on Monday.
House Leader Major Jack raised a motion to inform the Assembly about the expiration, leading to a vote to shut down the Rivers State Consolidated Revenue Account. This move prevents the Fubara administration from spending any state funds.
“This decision is necessary to ensure that the governor complies with the directives and re-presents the budget,” Jack stated.
However, it remains unclear if the state government will honor the directives from the Amaewhule-led Assembly, as Governor Fubara has previously dismissed this group as not legally recognized.
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Tension is rising following the ultimatum’s expiration. The Assembly’s demand for the budget re-submission was part of a motion by Dumle Maol, Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary and Deputy Speaker of the pro-Nyesom Wike Assembly.
Maol emphasized “the need for the governor to present the budget again, citing a recent court ruling that confirmed their membership and validated Amaewhule’s leadership.
“Governor Fubara had already submitted an ₦800 billion budget to the Assembly led by former Speaker Edison Ehie, now Chief of Staff at Government House. This budget was passed and signed into law.
“Meanwhile, Speaker Oko-Jumbo has approached the Supreme Court to overturn an Appeal Court judgment that nullified previous decisions by the Port Harcourt High Court.”