The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has accused some government officials in the state of withholding vital information regarding the implementation of the 2024 budget under the suspended administration.
Speaking on Wednesday while addressing members of the House Special Committee overseeing the emergency rule in Rivers State, Ibas expressed concern over the lack of transparency and the poor availability of records necessary for the preparation of the 2025 budget.
He noted that the existing documentation on the 2024 budget and its performance raises serious concerns and falls short of what is required for a credible and effective fiscal plan for the coming year.
Citing Section 11, Subsection 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and a recent Supreme Court pronouncement regarding the Rivers State 2025 appropriation, the Administrator stated that the President had directed the submission of a fresh budget proposal for the state.
Ibas emphasized the need for full cooperation and accountability from government officials to ensure a transparent and constitutionally compliant budgeting process.
He said, “I subsequently submitted proposal to Mr. President which he graciously transmitted to the National Assembly for consideration. Furthermore, we received a correspondence from this distinguished committee requesting for more information on the budget proposal. I am pleased to inform the committee that we have largely compiled and transmitted the requested information on the proposed 2025 budget”.
Ibas said, “The proposed 2025 River State Government budget aligns with the strategic objectives in the River State Development Plan 2017-2027.
“The budget presents a strategic and integrated framework designed to raise revenues and accelerate infrastructure development, enhance human capital, and promote inclusive economic growth across all sectors. We are optimistic that implementing the 2025 budget proposal will deliver great socioeconomic benefits for the people of River State.
“While the records available to me on the 2024 budget and its actual performance remain a source of concern, a quick review of the official records for the 2024 budget shows that the total revenue of the River State government was ₦1.04 trillion compared to a target of ₦800.39 billion. This represents 250 billion naira or 31.6 % above the budget target.
“On the expenditure side, official performance report shows total expenditure was 740.74 billion naira, which was ₦52.7 billion naira or 6.7 % less than the spending target which in my well-considered opinion, the expenditures are clearly understated. The total revenue projected for the 2025 fiscal year is 1.4 trillion naira.
“As of May 2025, total revenue inflows were ₦597.14 billion which is only about 4 % less than our projection. The total expenditure planned for 2025 is ₦1.48 trillion.
“The proposed 2025 budget was meticulously designed to account for unregularized expenditures already undertaken during the first quarter of the fiscal year by the suspended administration before the state of emergency declaration by His Excellency President Bola Tinibu, GCFR.
‘Regrettably, some state officials withheld critical information required to ensure a more complete capture of those expenditures at the time of submission of the budget estimates.
“However, recognizing the exigencies under the state emergency and the need to ensure fiscal credibility, the budget framework integrates expenditure information made available before the submission of the budget proposal to ratify the first quarter expenditures within a lawful and transparent structure. This ensures alignment with statutory appropriation protocols while safeguarding the integrity of public finance management.
“Additionally, in anticipation of the eventual return to constitutional order, the draft budget prudently retains provisions for the offices and functions of suspended political actors, some of whom have already drawn unallocated resources in the first quarter and are expected to resume their duties at the expiration of the emergency period.
“With a record allocation of ₦324.51 billion to critical infrastructure, the administration is prioritizing completing high-impact roads, bridges, and transport networks to improve connectivity, facilitate commerce, and stimulate economic activities across rural and urban areas.
“This also includes ₦38.85 billion allocated for shoreline protection, land reclamation and erosion control, supporting long-term environmental resilience and disaster mitigation efforts.
“In the agricultural sector, the budget aligns with Nigeria’s broader food security goals through a ₦4.5 billion naira counterpart fund for the rural access to access and agricultural markets and market projects programs to unlock about forty five billion to open up rural access to farms and markets, ten billion naira for food security and initiative aimed at catalyzing and scaling up of local production in rice cassava oil palm maize poultry and coconut.
