Mathew Amaechi
The Rivers State Government has refuted claims of receiving a 48-hour ultimatum from the State House of Assembly demanding the re-presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill. The ultimatum, issued on Monday by the Assembly led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, followed a Supreme Court ruling that reinstated the lawmakers.
In a letter dated March 5, 2025, addressed to the Speaker, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Tammy Danagogo, stated that as of the close of work on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, no official communication regarding the Assembly’s resolutions had been received by the offices of the Governor, Deputy Governor, or Accountant-General.
This development adds to the ongoing political tensions in Rivers State. In December 2023, Governor Siminalayi Fubara presented the 2025 budget to a faction of the Assembly led by Edison Ehie, which was swiftly passed and signed into law.
The Amaewhule-led Assembly, however, has challenged the legitimacy of this process, leading to the current standoff.
The Assembly’s ultimatum expired on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, without compliance from the state government. The SSG’s letter suggests a lack of official notification as the reason for non-compliance. The situation remains fluid, with stakeholders awaiting further developments in this budgetary impasse.