By John Moses
The Nigerian Senate has passed the 2025 Rivers State Appropriation Bill, totalling ₦1.48 trillion, following a review by an ad hoc committee established to monitor governance under the state of emergency in the region.
The bill was approved during Wednesday’s plenary session after the presentation of the committee’s report by Senate Leader and Committee Chairman, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.
In his presentation, Senator Bamidele emphasised that the invocation of emergency rule in Rivers was not a political manoeuvre, but a constitutional response guided by Section 305 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
“Emergency rule is not a substitute for democracy, but rather a temporary constitutional instrument designed to restore stability in times of disorder,” he said.
He noted that the National Assembly acted within its constitutional powers in intervening in Rivers, where the state legislature has been unable to function effectively due to ongoing political tensions. Section 11(4) of the Constitution empowers the National Assembly to legislate for a state under such circumstances.
According to Bamidele, the 2025 budget aligns with the objectives of the emergency rule, particularly in its emphasis on governance continuity and service delivery. Approximately 72% of the budget has been allocated to capital expenditure, aimed at accelerating economic recovery and improving public sector efficiency.
The budget also includes a ₦50 billion provision to address pension arrears and gratuity payments, part of an estimated ₦147 billion backlog.
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau and Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Solomon Adeola, both praised the report’s clarity and the budget’s structure, calling it a sign of commitment by the interim administration to deliver democratic dividends.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the committee’s work and expressed hope that the approved projects would lead to peace and prosperity in Rivers State.
