Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas

The Nigerian Senate has pledged to rigorously monitor the disbursement and implementation of the N1.48 trillion 2025 budget proposed by the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), under the current emergency rule in the state.

Speaking on Thursday during a budget defence session at the National Assembly, Chairman of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on the Oversight of Emergency Governance in Rivers, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, assured Nigerians that the legislature would ensure transparent use of public funds.

“This is not just about reviewing figures on paper,” Bamidele said. “We are mandated by the Nigerian people to ensure that allocated funds are used effectively—project by project, sector by sector—so the people of Rivers State feel the real impact of governance, especially under these exceptional circumstances.”

The Senate Leader emphasised that the committee would conduct follow-up evaluations in the coming months to assess performance, timelines, and outcomes, ensuring that the emergency spending leads to improved infrastructure, healthcare, education, security, and livelihoods.

Bamidele also addressed public concerns about the emergency rule, reiterating that it is a constitutional measure, not a substitute for democracy.

“Emergency rule is not a replacement for democracy,” he clarified. “It is a lawful intervention aimed at restoring peace and order when governance is at risk, as outlined in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.”

During the session, Vice Admiral Ibas highlighted challenges confronting the 2025 fiscal planning, including the lack of transparency and missing documentation from the 2024 budget cycle.

“The limited availability of records and performance data from 2024 has made it difficult to develop a credible and accountable framework for 2025,” Ibas said. He accused unnamed officials of withholding critical information necessary for effective budget planning.

The Senate had passed the 2025 Appropriation Bill for Rivers State through second reading on May 28 and referred it to the ad-hoc committee for detailed review. The panel is expected to submit its report within a week.

As scrutiny intensifies, the National Assembly has assured that it will uphold its constitutional oversight role to ensure the budget delivers tangible results and restores public confidence in governance across Rivers State.