Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State has similarly presented the 2025 budget proposal to a segment of the state House of Assembly. The N1.1 trillion budget was presented on Monday to the Assembly faction led by Victor Oko-Jumbo.
During plenary, the four-member Assembly faction received and read Fubara’s letter requesting permission to present the appropriation bill. This marks the governor’s second budget presentation since assuming office, following the N800 billion 2024 budget he presented last year to another four-member Assembly faction led by then-Speaker Edison Ehie that generated a lot of controversy in Rivers state at the time.
The budget presentation comes against the backdrop of recent political tensions and shift in Rivers state including the conflict between Wike and Fubara. The ongoing tension and power tussle has been allegedly led to the defection of 27 lawmakers, led by fractional Speaker Martin Amaewhule, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) altering the dynamics of the State, leaving the legislative body fragmented.
Adding to the complexities, parts of the State House of Assembly complex were recently demolished, a move that coincided with the legislative realignments. Meanwhile, Edison Ehie, who had previously presided over a similar four-member Assembly faction, resigned from his legislative role and was later appointed Chief of Staff by Governor Fubara.
Bottom Line
Governor Fubara’s budget presentations reflect his administration’s efforts to maintain governance in a challenging political circumstances. However, the battle is far from being over. Observers are watching to see the development of the budget and if it will take a similar path as the 2024 budget. Either ways, the state must navigate these developments with focus on implementation and impact on Rivers State’s growth and stability.
