In a historic move, the Nigerian Senate has approved a N1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for the 2025 fiscal year, stepping in due to the political impasse that has paralyzed the state’s House of Assembly.
The budget, presented to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was passed after a third reading and the adoption of the report from the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State. This federal action follows the Supreme Court’s nullification of a previously passed state budget and comes amid a deepening political crisis in Rivers.
Key Components of the Approved Budget:
Total Appropriation: N1.485 trillion from the Rivers State Consolidated Revenue Fund
Capital Projects: N1.077 trillion earmarked, reflecting a strong focus on infrastructure and development
Recurrent Spending: N287.38 billion allocated for non-debt recurrent expenditure
Debt Servicing: N120.8 billion
Pensions and Gratuities: N50 billion set aside for retirees, with fresh calls for transparency and prompt disbursement
President Tinubu, in a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, justified the move as necessary to maintain governance and ensure financial continuity in Rivers State.
With Senate approval secured, implementation now awaits formal assent—marking an extraordinary federal intervention in state matters aimed at restoring administrative order in Rivers amidst unresolved political tensions.
