RSHA gives Fubara 48hrs to present 2025 budget, says Supreme Court judgement prohibits HLGAs from administering Councils

The Rivers State House of Assembly, RSHA, has given the state governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara 48hrs to present the 2025 appropriation to the House, saying they would soon commence the process of amending the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018 and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law No. 2 of 2018, so that they can be in tandem with the Electoral Act and pave the way for the commencement of plans for fresh Local Government elections in the State.

Fresh Angle International, can report that this much was contained in the resolutions reached by the House during plenary Monday March 3.

The resolution, which was communicated to Governor Fubara and signed by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, reminded the governor that the Supreme Court in Suit No.: SC/CV/343/2024, prohibits the administration of Local Governments by HLGA's or any other persons other than democratically elected officials.

The House, noted: “At the 130th Legislative day of the Second Session of the Tenth (10th) Rivers State House of Assembly which held on Monday the 3rd day of March 2025, the House amongst other matters deliberated on Judgements of the Supreme Court in Suits numbers- SC/CV/1174/2024 and SC/CV/1105/2024 delivered on the 28th day of February 2025 and resolved as follows:

“1. That pursuant to the order of the Supreme Court in Suit no.: SC/CV/1174/2024 for the stoppage of Statutory Federal allocations to the Rivers State Government and halting of spending from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State pending the passage of an Appropriation Bill, you are requested to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the House in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

“2. That the House expects you to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill within 48 hours.

“3. That since the Supreme Court in the judgement delivered in Suit no.: SC/CV/1105/2024 nullified the purported Rivers State Local Government Elections of 5th October 2024 for non-compliance with the Electoral Act among other reasons, the House would soon commence the process of amending the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018 and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law No. 2 of 2018 so that they can be in tandem with the Electoral Act and pave the way for the commencement of plans for fresh Local Government elections in the State.

“4. That your attention should be drawn to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended; the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Law, 2023 as well as the Judgement of the Supreme Court in Suit No.: SC/CV/343/2024 that prohibits the administration of Local Governments by HLGA's or any other persons other than democratically elected officials.

“5. That the House would proceed on a 12- week recess as from Friday 7th March 2025, but Standing Committees would be expected to continue statutory functions.

“Please be informed that our resolutions are geared towards a quick fix to the current financial quagmire occasioned by the absence of an Appropriation Law for Rivers State. We do not want Rivers State people to suffer.

“We, therefore, urge you to act fast and do the needful in the best interest of the good people of rivers State.”

The House, copied the Deputy Governor, Rivers State, Prof. Ngozi Odu-, the state Accountant-General and the Chairman, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC.

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