President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted a budget of N1.481 trillion for Rivers State to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.
This unusual move comes after the Supreme Court nullified the 2025 Rivers State budget and declared that the State is currently under emergency rule. As a result, the Rivers State House of Assembly is not in session, leaving the National Assembly to take over its legislative duties based on provisions in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
In his letter to the lawmakers on Thursday, President Tinubu explained that the budget must be urgently passed in order to ensure governance continues smoothly in the state.
According to the President, the proposed budget gives top priority to infrastructure, with N324 billion allocated to road and other physical development projects. The health sector will receive N166 billion, education N75.6 billion, and agriculture N31.4 billion.
President Tinubu also highlighted that the agricultural sector is expected to generate over 6,000 new jobs, which could help reduce unemployment in the state and support food security efforts.
He appealed to the National Assembly to act quickly on the matter. “I urge the honourable members to give this budget your urgent attention and approval for the benefit and welfare of the good people of Rivers State,” he said.
This development follows weeks of political crisis in Rivers State, which led to the breakdown of normal legislative activities. The Supreme Court’s ruling on the nullification of the state budget further complicated governance, prompting the President to step in.
Under Nigeria’s constitution, the National Assembly can temporarily assume the role of a state’s House of Assembly during periods of constitutional breakdown or emergency.
The proposed budget is now awaiting review and debate by the Senate and House of Representatives. If passed, it will allow the federal government to continue running the affairs of Rivers State until the political situation is resolved and the state’s legislature is restored.
The situation in Rivers has drawn national attention, and stakeholders are watching closely to see how the National Assembly handles this critical assignment.
