In a significant move, President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Senate’s approval for the 2025 Rivers budget, totaling N1.48 trillion. This request, as outlined in a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, marks a critical step in the budget approval process, especially given the current state of emergency in Rivers.
The letter, titled “Forwarding of Rivers State Government 2025 Appropriation Bill for consideration by the National Assembly,” highlights the urgency of the situation. With Rivers under emergency rule since March, the state lacks a functioning House of Assembly, prompting the need for the National Assembly to step in and approve the budget. President Tinubu emphasized that Regulation 4, sub-section 2 of the emergency rule 2025 necessitates authorization for expenditure from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the state’s activities.
The proposed budget allocates substantial funds to key sectors. A significant N324 billion is earmarked for infrastructure, covering both ongoing and new projects, while the health sector is set to receive N166 billion. Notably, N5 billion of the health budget is dedicated to providing free drugs for the treatment of malaria and other common ailments. Education and agriculture are also priorities, with allocations of N75.6 billion and N31.4 billion, respectively. The spending plan is designed to generate 6,000 jobs, primarily through investments in agriculture.
President Tinubu expressed his hope for the Senate’s “expeditious and auspicious consideration” of the appropriation bill, underscoring the importance of prompt approval for the state’s development. Following the reading of the letter during plenary, Senate President Akpabio referred the matter to the ad-hoc committee on emergency rule in Rivers, instructing them to report back as soon as possible.
This move by President Tinubu and the subsequent referral by the Senate President underscore the collaborative efforts between the executive and legislative branches to address the challenges in Rivers State. The approval of the 2025 budget will be a significant step towards stabilizing and developing the state, especially in critical areas such as infrastructure, health, education, and agriculture. As the process unfolds, the international community will be watching closely, given the implications for both regional stability and the broader context of African development.
