Fubara, Rivers Assembly tango over ultimatum to present 2025 budget

Fubara, Rivers Assembly tango over ultimatum to present 2025 budget

The Rivers State Government has disclosed that it was yet to receive a letter from the State House of Assembly regarding the resolutions made according to the Supreme Court judgment delivered on February 28, 2025.

This is coming few hours to 48-hour ultimatum the Assembly gave Governor Siminalayi Fubara to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

In a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Wenike Danagogo, the government revealed that as of March 4, 2025, neither the office of the Governor, Deputy Governor nor the Accountant-General had received the letter.

But the Assembly stated that the letter was sent to the recipient on the same day it was issued. To prove their claims, a picture of the parcel showed that it was being sent out by Nwoka Gift Wordu, the principal secretary to the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule.

On the parcel is an inscription noting that the letter was rejected by the recipient.

The Assembly, in a letter, prohibited Heads of Local Government Administrations (HLGAs) from managing local government councils.

Danagogo noted that Governor Siminalayi Fubara, had earlier stated in a state broadcast on March 2, 2025, that he would obey and implement the Supreme Court’s decisions, despite his personal opinions on the matter.

Meanwhile, there are indications that the Assembly will resume sitting today and their resolution is hanging.

The government’s response reads: “I hereby refer to a letter dated 3rd March 2025 on the above subject, which we came across on social media, and notify you that: As of the close of work on Tuesday 4th March 2025, we are yet to receive the said letter. Neither the office of the Governor, nor the Deputy Governor’s office, nor the office of the Accountant-General of the State has received the said letter.

“Please, recall that His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, had in a State Broadcast on Sunday, March 2, 2025, stated clearly that notwithstanding his personal opinion on the Supreme Court Judgments, he will, as a law-abiding Nigerian, obey and implement their decisions in accordance with the rule of law and the best interest of the people of Rivers State.

“We have since been in contact with our lawyers who are still awaiting the certified true copy of the judgments of the Supreme Court, and hereby reassure you and all the good people of Rivers State that as soon as His Excellency receives the judgments, he will strive to implement same timeously in the best interest of our people.