Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), has revealed that some officials of the suspended administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara deliberately withheld key financial information that complicated the planning for a transparent budget for the 2025 fiscal year.

Ibas, who made the disclosure on Wednesday during his appearance before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight for the defence of the proposed N1.48 trillion budget, raised concerns that expenditures by the suspended administration were clearly understated.

President Bola Tinubu last month transmitted a budget proposal of N1.48 trillion for the Rivers State Government to the National Assembly for consideration and passage.

The President said the budget proposal became necessary because of the nullification of the 2025 budget of the state by the Supreme Court and the fact that the state is currently under emergency rule.

The President said that ₦324bn of the amount will be expended on infrastructure, ₦166bn on health, ₦75.6bn on education, and ₦31.4bn on agriculture.

During the budget defence, Ibas explained that the uncooperative stance of the officials hindered a full accounting of funds already expended by the suspended administration during the first quarter of 2025 prior to the declaration of a state of emergency in the state by President Tinubu.

Ibas, however, stressed that the budget proposal submitted to the National Assembly was revised to integrate available expenditure information in order to ratify the first quarter spending in a lawful and transparent structure.

He said, “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, the quick review of the official records for the 2024 budget shows that the total revenue of the River State Government was N1.04 trillion, compared to a target of N800.39 billion.

“This represents N250 billion, or 31.6 per cent above the budget target. On the expenditure side, the official performance report shows the total expenditure was ₦740.74 billion, which was N52.7 billion, or 6.7 per cent less than the spending target. It is my well-considered opinion that the expenditures are clearly understated.

“The total revenue projected for the 2025 fiscal year is N1.4 trillion. As of May 2025, total revenue inflows were N597.14 billion, which is only about four per cent less than our projection. The total expenditure planned for 2025 is N1.48 trillion.The proposed 2025 budget was particularly 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 Tinubu.

“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 of 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 in a lawful and transparent structure.

He said this would ensure alignment with statutory appropriation protocols while safeguarding the integrity of public finance management.

He further disclosed that the 2025 draft budget retains funding provisions for offices and functions of suspended political actors, some of whom, he noted, had drawn down on allocated funds earlier in the year and are expected to resume official duties at the expiration of the emergency period.

Ibas said that the record allocation of N324.5 billion to critical infrastructure underlines the administration’s commitment to completing high-impact roads, bridges, and transport networks aimed at improving connectivity and commerce across both urban and rural parts of the state.

According to him, additional allocations include N38.85 billion for shoreline protection, land reclamation and erosion control, which he said would support long-term environmental resilience and disaster mitigation efforts.

The Rivers State administrator outlined further sectoral investments: N4.5 billion in counterpart funding to unlock N45 billion for rural agricultural access projects; N10 billion for food security; N3.5 billion for agricultural mechanisation; and substantial allocations to health and education infrastructure.

On healthcare, the state proposes N55 billion for the relocation and expansion of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, N50 billion for zonal hospitals, and N5 billion for a drug revolving fund to stabilise medicine supply chains.

Education will receive N30 billion for zonal secondary schools and N5.75 billion for primary school rehabilitation, with additional attention to inclusive learning initiatives.

In social sectors, the budget earmarks N2.5 billion for women’s economic empowerment and N3 billion for a youth resource centre to promote innovation and enterprise among the young population.

Responding to the presentation, Chairman of the House Committee on Rivers State Oversight, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, commended the administrator for his detailed briefing and reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to supporting the peace and development efforts in the state.

“This committee is committed to working with you to restore stability, peace, growth, and development in Rivers State. Rivers has always been a shining example of what is possible with good leadership,” Ihonvbere said.

He stressed the importance of transparency and due process in reviewing the budget: “We will scrutinize the budget. We will invite you to send your relevant officials for a proper defense. While we are committed to getting Rivers State back on track, we are not going to cut corners,” he added.