The Nigerian Senate, on Wednesday, passed the Rivers State 2025 appropriation bill for a second reading. The budget, which totals N1.48 trillion, was presented to the chamber amid the ongoing state of emergency in the state.
Senate Leader, Senator Michael Bamidele Opeyemi, who introduced the bill, noted that the National Assembly had taken on the responsibility of lawmaking for Rivers State since the federal government declared a state of emergency in the region. This development followed political unrest and instability in the state government earlier in the year.
According to Opeyemi, the legislative action was necessary to ensure governance and public services continued despite the current suspension of democratic institutions in the state. “The people of Rivers must not suffer because of the political situation,” he stated.
Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan also supported the budget proposal. He noted that passing the budget quickly was vital to restore a sense of government presence and support for citizens.
“Mr. President, I don’t know under what topic this document is christened but I could see it is about a budget of the state of emergency. I hereby support that the budget be passed for second reading so that the people of Rivers can feel the presence of government,” Olamilekan said during plenary.
Following deliberations and in the absence of any opposition, Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed that the budget be passed through a voice vote. The motion was carried without objection, and the bill has now been referred to the Senate’s Ad-hoc Committee tasked with monitoring the Rivers State emergency administration.
