Fubara signs N1.1trn 2025 budget into law, as APC kicks
…Says Oko-Jumbo-led Assembly is only legislature in Rivers
…Promises growth in education, healthcare, infrastructure with new budget
By Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has formally signed into law the state’s N1.188 trillion budget for the 2025 fiscal year, once again shunning lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike..
This happened within 48 hours of its presentation.
However, the signing has stirred controversy as the governor deliberately boycotted lawmakers aligned with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
The budget, tagged the “Budget of Inclusive Growth & Development,” was presented to a faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, who is loyal to Fubara.
The governor disclosed this via his X, formerly Twitter, handle on Thursday.
Fubara appreciated the lawmakers for their unwavering commitment to service, as he noted that the budget would cut across several sectors in the state, including education, health, among others.
“Today, I signed into law the 2025 Rivers State Appropriation Bill. Tagged ‘Budget of Inclusive Growth and Development,’ the bill is estimated at N1.1 trillion.
“I deeply appreciate the Rivers State House of Assembly for their diligence and my executives for their unwavering commitment to service. Together, we are setting the pace for a prosperous year ahead, focusing on education, healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure.
“Let me, on this note, thank everyone and once again wish you a happy and prosperous New Year ahead as we continue the journey of making Rivers State great again,” the post read.
This figure is an increase from the 2024 budget of N800 billion that was presented in 2023 to the House.
The Governor said records need to be put straight to address insinuations in some quarters about a possible splitter in the Legislature, stating that there is no such division.
“I want to say this, maybe, for some people somewhere who are still mixing up issues. We have only one Rivers State House of Assembly and that Assembly is headed by Rt Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo,” the Governor said.
He described those who abdicated their mandate in the House as a group of friends who had embarked on ‘Sinbad journey’, and half-way into the journey, they decided to return, saying, “It is too late. We are not going back. As far as I am concerned, we have moved on.
Governor Fubara said that as it stands now, the focus of his administration is to do everything possible in defending the interest of Rivers State and the integrity of governance. He assured that with the 2025 budget now signed, every projection made in it will be addressed to deliver hope and good life to all residents in the State.
“We will make sure that we kick-start, so that the record of performance that was accorded by this administration in the year 2024 will be higher in this year, 2025.
“Let me first thank the Rivers State House of Assembly for doing a very diligent job, and also realising the task that we have ahead of us, which is to continue to work for Rivers people. So, I want to thank you for working very hard and ensuring that we hit the ground running in this New Year,” he stressed.
Governor Fubara also commended members of the State Executive Council, which he described as the management team, especially the Deputy Governor, for their support and cooperation, and particularly thanked the Commissioners for Finance, and Budget, as well as the Acting Chairman of Rivers State Internal Revenue Board, for the wonderful job they did last year.
“We expect you to do more because we have a bigger task ahead of us. We have made some promises to our people. Education, Health and Agriculture; we must make sure we make a good impact just like we have done in the areas of roads and other aspects of the economy. We made a promise to you (Rivers people) that we will continue to protect, defend and promote the interest of our dear State,” Gov Fubara assured.
Reacting to this, the opposition All Progressives Congress in the state accused the governor of perpetrating an illegality.
This development is similar to last year’s events, where Governor Fubara presented the N800 billion 2024 budget before a four-member assembly and assented to it within 24 hours.
