The River State House of Assembly has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Governor Simnilayi Fubara to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

The house gave the directive during a plenary in Port Harcourt on Monday.

In a resolution addressed to Mr Fubara and signed by the speaker, Martin Amaewhule, the lawmakers said the directive was in compliance with the Supreme Court judgement.

The legislative arm also condemned the governor’s directive to the heads of local government administration to take charge of the councils, saying it was illegal and against the Supreme Court’s decision.

The house resolution read: “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.

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

“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.

“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.

“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.”

Mr Amaewhule said the house resolutions are geared towards a quick fix to the current financial quagmire occasioned by the absence of an Appropriation Law for the 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 speaker added.

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