ABUJA — The Senate has passed the ₦1.485 trillion 2025 budget for Rivers State, following the third reading of the appropriation bill submitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu.
The passage followed the consideration of the report by the Senate’s Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State during the Committee of Supply session.
The bill authorises the issuance of ₦1,485,662,592,442 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025.
Breakdown of the budget includes ₦120.8 billion for debt servicing, ₦287.38 billion for recurrent non-debt expenditure, and ₦1.077 trillion earmarked for capital projects.
During deliberations, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) voiced concern over an additional ₦50 billion allocated for pension and gratuity payments, urging the committee to ensure that the funds directly benefit the intended pensioners.
The budget now awaits assent by the state administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), appointed by President Tinubu following the suspension of the Rivers State House of Assembly and declaration of emergency rule on March 18, 2025.
Tinubu had earlier submitted the proposal to both the Senate and House of Representatives after the Supreme Court nullified the 2025 budget passed under the embattled Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The intervention came amid prolonged political hostilities between Governor Fubara and lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
