The Senate has disclosed that the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), along with other key state officials, will appear before the Joint National Assembly Ad-hoc Committee to Oversee Emergency Rule in Rivers State to defend the state’s 2025 budget.
The upper chamber also assured Nigerians of its commitment to ensuring that the people of Rivers State are not shortchanged due to the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu on March 18.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the committee on Monday at the New Senate Wing of the National Assembly Complex, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, emphasized the importance of the committee’s oversight responsibility.
Following the President’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State, Senate President Godswill Akpabio constituted an 18-member ad-hoc committee chaired by Bamidele to supervise governance in the state.
At the meeting, Senator Bamidele stated that both chambers of the National Assembly had resolved to conduct a joint session to scrutinize the 2025 budget, which was presented by the Sole Administrator through President Tinubu last week.
“It is our understanding with our colleagues in the House of Representatives that the Sole Administrator and other relevant state officials will appear before the joint ad-hoc committee when it is time to defend the 2025 budget,” Bamidele said, assuring Nigerians of effective oversight.
He described the inaugural session as “a necessary ritual” to enable the committee to fulfill its mandate, adding that the committee would ensure that democratic governance continues in Rivers State despite the emergency rule.
“The Senate is committed to the rule of law and the tenets of democracy. I am confident in the pedigree of this committee’s members to deliver on the task of overseeing the activities of the Sole Administrator in Rivers State,” Bamidele noted.
The Senate leader charged committee members to be diligent and thorough in their oversight functions to protect the interests of Rivers citizens during the emergency period.
He further disclosed that the 2025 budget of Rivers State has been officially presented to the National Assembly by the Sole Administrator, through the Commander-in-Chief, and referred to the committee for review.
“The committee has just finalised its work plan and timetable to ensure a proper budget defence process. This will involve not only the Sole Administrator but also other key officials, including the Accountant-General of Rivers State, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and other relevant economic stakeholders,” Bamidele said.
He reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to transparency and accountability, pledging to prevent any disruption to governance in the state during the emergency period.
“As much as possible, the National Assembly will ensure propriety in the discharge of our oversight functions. We will also ensure that governance does not suffer in Rivers State,” Bamidele concluded.
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