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The Rivers State House of Assembly has given Governor Fubara 48 hours to present the 2025 budget following a Supreme Court order. Tensions rise as the governor faces pressure over his administration of local governments, fueling political uncertainty in the state.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has given Governor Siminalayi Fubara a 48-hour deadline to present the 2025 budget for consideration. This move follows a Supreme Court ruling that halted federal allocations to the state until the Appropriation Bill was passed. The Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, passed this resolution during a plenary session in Port Harcourt, urging Fubara to comply with constitutional requirements.

The lawmakers also condemned Fubara’s directive to the heads of local government administrations, deeming it illegal and contrary to the Supreme Court’s earlier decision. The Court had ruled that only democratically elected officials could manage local governments, not unelected heads or appointees. This ruling nullified the 2024 local government elections in Rivers, further intensifying the political tension in the state.

Fubara had previously signed a ₦1.1 trillion 2025 budget into law on January 2nd, but months later, a Supreme Court ruling restored legitimacy to Amaewhule's leadership of the Assembly. In light of the ruling, the Assembly is now requiring the governor to present the budget, which was named the "Budget of Inclusive Growth and Development."

In addition to these political moves, the Assembly has announced plans to go on recess by the end of the week, marking a break after working for two years without pause.