Senate passes Rivers 2025 Appropriation Bill of N1.48trn

The Senate has passed the Rivers 2025 Appropriation Bill of N1.48 trillion, following the presentation and consideration of the report of the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Oversight of Emergency Rule in Rivers.

Chairman of the Committee and Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, emphasized that emergency rule is not a substitute for democratic governance, but an extraordinary constitutional measure to restore order and promote peace.

“The invocation of emergency rule in Rivers was not an arbitrary action, but one rooted firmly in the provision of section 305 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

Bamidele noted that 72% of the budget was allocated to capital projects, aimed at driving economic recovery and enhancing public sector efficiency.

“The committee observed that N50 billion provision has been made in the current budget proposal to address the backlog of pensions gratuity, which is estimated at N147 billion,” he added.

Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, commended the chairman of the committee and members for a job well done, saying, “There is proof that he is actually the leader of the Senate because of the quality of the report.”

Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Sen. Solomon Adeola, also commended the interim government in Rivers for a well-structured budget.

President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, thanked the leader of the Senate and all members of the committee for expediting the process.

“I pray that when these projects are executed, they will bring more dividends of democracy to the good people of Rivers and lead to peace, development, and prosperity,” he said.