The Senate has passed the 2025 Appropriation Bill for Rivers State, totaling ₦1.485 trillion, following its third reading on the Senate floor.
The approval came after the upper chamber reviewed the report of its Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State during a Committee of Supply session. The bill authorizes the issuance of ₦1,485,662,592,442 from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025.
The budget breakdown includes ₦120.8 billion for debt servicing, ₦287.38 billion for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, and ₦1.077 trillion for capital projects.
While supporting the bill, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) raised concerns over the ₦50 billion allocated for outstanding pensions and gratuities, urging stricter oversight to ensure timely and transparent disbursement to beneficiaries.
The budget now awaits assent and implementation.
President Bola Tinubu submitted the Rivers State 2025 budget to the National Assembly in May, following the suspension of the state’s House of Assembly. His letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio outlined a proposed ₦1.481 trillion budget aimed at revitalizing key sectors.
Tinubu also addressed the House of Representatives, noting that the Supreme Court had nullified the earlier 2025 budget presented by suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Following prolonged political tensions between Governor Fubara and Assembly members aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, and appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as interim administrator for an initial six-month term.
