Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has rejected the 48-hour ultimatum given to him by the Martin Amaewhule-led State House of Assembly to present the “2025 budget”.
He also dismissed the lawmakers’ opposition to his decision, directing outgoing local government chairmen to hand over to the Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs).
The Supreme Court-validated Assembly, which held its first session, which was a sequel to the apex court verdicts, insisted that Fubara must present the “2025 budget,” named the “Budget of Inclusive Growth and Development,” within two days.
It will be recalled that Fubara’s House of Assembly comprising four members had already passed the State’s N1.1 trillion budget, which Fubara had already signed into law on January 2, following its passage by the Supreme Court-invalidated Victor Oko-Jumbo-led Assembly.
In addition to their demand, the Nyesom Wike-inspired twenty-three lawmakers announced that they would begin a 12-week recess starting Friday, March 7, though standing committees would continue their regular duties.
The 27-member Rivers State House of Assembly is divided into two factions behind Fubara and Wike.
Despite the pressure by the Wike lawmakers, Fubara has stood firm, stating that his administration would not be forced into actions that go against legal interpretations.
The state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, addressed the matter on Monday.
He explained that the government had not yet received the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court judgment and would act accordingly once it was available.
Johnson described the language used by the pro-Wike lawmakers as inappropriate and disrespectful to the governor.
He also defended Fubara’s directive for outgoing local government chairmen to hand over to HLGAs, stating that the process was already underway.
He criticized the Assembly for demanding the governor to submit the “2025 budget” within a strict deadline, arguing that such an approach was undemocratic.
“The issue of saying the governor has been ordered sounds too military. It is not a democratic language. Nobody orders anybody. By Friday, we will get the judgement, look at it, and I will personally call the media to say this is what we have, and this is what we are going to do. It is enough to say Au revoir,” he said.
Regarding the local government handover, Johnson questioned why councils could not function independently when there were no elected officials in place.
He compared it to a situation where, if a commissioner is removed, the Permanent Secretary takes over in an acting capacity.
He said Fubara had shown good faith by directing the sacked LG chairmen to hand over to the HLGAs in the 23 LGs.
“But to show good faith, the governor has even gone ahead to direct the LG chairmen to hand over to the Heads of Local Government Administration in their councils.
“And they (outgoing chairman) are handing over already. It will sound disrespectful to say the governor will do this. I’m not the governor. I’m just the commissioner for information. Let us wait, Friday is just here,” he said.
