- On June 25, the senate passed the N1.48 trillion appropriation bill for Rivers state.
- According to the budget breakdown, N120.8 billion is earmarked for debt servicing, N287.38 billion for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, while N1.077 trillion will be invested in capital projects.
The House of Representatives ad hoc committee overseeing affairs in Rivers state has raised serious concerns over several line items in the state’s 2025 budget, particularly multi-billion naira allocations for security and surveillance infrastructure.
Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere, who chairs the committee, led the scrutiny during a budget defence session held Monday in Abuja.
He questioned the rationale behind earmarking ₦24 billion for closed-circuit television (CCTV) installations, ₦30 billion for gunboats, and ₦23 billion for contingency spending in the ₦1.48 trillion appropriation recently approved by the senate on June 25.
According to the budget breakdown, Rivers plans to spend ₦120.8 billion on debt servicing, ₦287.38 billion on recurrent (non-debt) costs, and ₦1.077 trillion on capital projects.
Ihonvbere noted that the budget was submitted without a Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), a document legally required to guide fiscal planning and budgeting.
He also criticized the inclusion of federal projects in the state’s budget without any formal reimbursement arrangement with the federal government.
“We have identified gaps that need urgent clarification,” Ihonvbere said.
“The absence of an MTEF is a major red flag. Additionally, we need detailed explanations for the allocations to CCTV and gunboats. These are significant sums that require justification.”
He further requested financial records covering the last three months of internally generated revenue (IGR) and demanded specifics on transfers to local governments, including how local government funds are being managed.
“These documents must be submitted within 48 hours,” Ihonvbere warned.
“We all share the goal of ensuring that governance in Rivers State works in the interest of all citizens, especially those far from the state capital.”
Senior Special Assistant on Strategy and Policy Andrew Nweke, who represented Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas at the session, defended the budget, stating that many of the provisions were inherited from previous administrations.
Nweke said the allocations were guided by a needs assessment conducted by relevant agencies and aligned with the priorities of Rivers residents.
The CCTV funding, he noted, was intended for surveillance upgrades at the Government House, while the gunboats are meant to strengthen security efforts on the state’s waterways.
He explained that the ₦23 billion contingency reserve was set aside to address potential emergencies, including flooding and security threats.
Nweke assured the lawmakers that all requested documents would be provided within the stipulated timeframe.
The exchange underscores the growing calls for greater fiscal transparency and accountability in state budgets, particularly in light of escalating public expenditures and Nigeria’s broader economic challenges.
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