The Senate on Wednesday passed the ₦1.48 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill for Rivers State, affirming its consistency with the ongoing emergency rule aimed at restoring governance in the state.
The decision followed the presentation of a report by the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Oversight of Emergency Rule, chaired by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who defended the constitutionality of the emergency measures taken in Rivers.
“Emergency rule is not a substitute for democracy, but a constitutional mechanism to restore stability during breakdowns,” Bamidele said, citing Sections 305 and 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution.
He said the appropriation bill reflects efforts to stabilise governance and ensure the delivery of essential services, with 72% of the budget earmarked for capital projects and ₦50 billion set aside to begin clearing a ₦147 billion backlog in pensions and gratuities.
The report received strong backing from lawmakers. Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau described it as “thorough and well-structured,” while Senator Solomon Adeola praised the interim administration’s focus on capital investment.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the swift work of the committee and expressed hope that the budget’s implementation would bring peace, development, and prosperity to Rivers.