House Of Reps Queries Rivers Administrator Over ₦1.48trillion Budget
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Oversight of Rivers State has queried the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), regarding certain expenditures within the ₦1.48 trillion budget for 2025.
The inquiry took place during a budget defence session at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, where the State delegation appeared before the Committee.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Committee and House Majority Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, noted that having reviewed the budget, there were areas of concern that needed some clarity.
A statement issued by the House spokesman, Akin Rotimi on Monday night, revealed that the committee identified grey areas including “₦24bn allocated for the installation of CCTV systems at the Rivers State Government House, ₦30bn earmarked for the procurement of gunboats and ₦23bn listed under a contingency provision without detailed justification.”
The Committee also faulted the decision of the Rivers State government to fund projects constitutionally under the purview of the Federal Government, allegedly “Without prior agreement or expectation of reimbursement.”
The House leader argued that such expenditures require proper justification and legal backing to ensure fiscal prudence.
The Committee thereafter issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Rivers State Government to submit “A detailed breakdown and justification for the highlighted expenditure items; a copy of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework as a statutory document that should precede any budget presentation.”
“Full disclosure on the management of local government funds, including the legal and administrative frameworks currently in place.
“Documentary evidence of financial transfers made to each of the 23 Local Government Area and all records related to the Airforce Base Agreement referenced during the budget presentation.”
Ihonvbere restated the duty of the Ad-hoc Committee in safeguarding the interest of the people and the constitutional mandate of the National Assembly in matters of financial oversight, saying, “We want to ensure that we promote accountability and that the interests of the people, no matter how remote they are from the state capital, are protected. Be assured that we are all on the same side in terms of getting Rivers working again.”
Responding on behalf of the Sole Administrator, the Special Adviser on Strategy and Policy, Andrew Nweke, explained that many of the items in the 2025 budget were inherited and were based on needs assessments conducted by relevant implementation agencies.
He said, “The ₦30bn allocated for gunboats was intended to support security agencies combating insecurity in the state’s waterways.
“The ₦23bn contingency fund was meant to address emergency challenges, including recurrent flooding and other unforeseen developments.
“The ₦24bn CCTV installation was considered necessary to modernise surveillance infrastructure and provide robust security for the office of the governor.”
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
