The Nigerian Senate has approved the ₦1.48 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill for Rivers State, a critical step in stabilising governance amid the state of emergency currently in place.
The approval followed the submission of a comprehensive report by the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on the Oversight of Emergency Rule in Rivers, chaired by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.
Presenting the report, Bamidele stressed that the emergency measures enacted in Rivers State were both constitutional and necessary to safeguard governance, restore peace, and ensure institutional continuity. He cited Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the President and National Assembly to intervene in the event of a breakdown in constitutional order.
“This is not an arbitrary action,” Bamidele said. “It is backed by law and aimed at protecting the democratic structure and ensuring the continuity of governance in Rivers.”
According to the report, 72 per cent of the approved budget is earmarked for capital projects, signalling a focus on economic recovery and infrastructural development. The bill also includes a ₦50 billion provision for the settlement of outstanding pension and gratuity liabilities, which currently stand at ₦147 billion.
Lawmakers from across party lines expressed strong support for the committee’s findings. Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau described the report as “evidence of strong leadership and diligence,” while Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Adeola, praised the capital-intensive allocation as “a sign of serious governance.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio lauded the committee’s efforts and charged the implementing authorities to ensure that the budget delivers real benefits to the people of Rivers State.
“This is for the good of the people of Rivers and, indeed, for Nigeria. Let the people see the dividends of democracy,” Akpabio said.
The Senate’s endorsement is expected to pave the way for accelerated infrastructural development, social services, and improved governance in Rivers, a state critical to Nigeria’s economic and political stability.
