The Rivers State government anticipated a recent Federal High Court ruling to halt local government allocations. Commissioner Joe Johnson expressed concerns about judicial proceedings affecting governance, attributing the decision to political influences. The government has appealed the ruling, hoping the Court of Appeal will overturn it and restore council funding.
The Rivers State government has responded to a recent Federal High Court ruling in Abuja that halted local government allocations, calling the decision "expected." Commissioner for Information, Joe Johnson, noted that several decisions during the trial hinted at this outcome, citing the judge’s refusal to include the 23 council chairmen as parties and the rejection of the state’s request to change its legal representation. Johnson remarked, "It was evident – we saw it coming."
This latest ruling directs the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend all payments to Rivers' local councils, sparking frustration among state officials who see this as an interference with local governance. Johnson expressed hope that the Court of Appeal would overturn the ruling, stating that the government had already filed an appeal.
The decision comes amid ongoing tensions between former Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike and his successor, Governor Siminialayi Fubara, whose administration has been embroiled in high-profile disputes. Rivers officials are increasingly vocal about what they see as political maneuvering, affecting both local governance and state-federal relations.
