Governor Siminalayi Fubara has officially rejected the 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Rivers State House of Assembly demanding the presentation of the 2025 budget.
The Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, had insisted that the governor submit the budget titled "Budget of Inclusive Growth and Development" within two days, directly challenging the ₦1.1 trillion budget that Fubara had already signed into law on January 2, 2025, after its passage by the now-defunct Victor Oko-Jumbo-led Assembly.
In response to the ultimatum, the Rivers State government has on Wednesday issued a statement through the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Dr. Tammy Wenike Danagogo, rejecting the demand.
The statement clarified that as of the close of work on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, neither the Governor's office, the Deputy Governor's office, nor the Accountant-General's office had received any official letter from the Assembly regarding the budget deadline. The government emphasized that they only came across the letter on social media.
The statement reaffirmed Governor Fubara's commitment to the rule of law, referencing his public broadcast on March 2, 2025, where he assured the people of Rivers State that, despite his personal opinions, he would abide by the Supreme Court's decisions.
The development follows the February 28, 2025, Supreme Court ruling, which reinstated 27 lawmakers who had previously announced their defection from the People's Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress. These lawmakers, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have been at odds with Governor Fubara.
The Supreme Court ruling also nullified the October 2024 local government elections conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission and ordered the freezing of the state's federal allocations until a budget is approved by the lawmakers.
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