River Assembly blocks Fubara spending pending budget presentation

In a dramatic session on Monday, the Rivers State House of Representatives, under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule, imposed a freeze on all expenditure by Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration until he presents the 2024 budget to lawmakers.

The move follows a seven-day ultimatum issued by the Assembly to Governor Fubara, demanding the immediate submission of the state budget.

During the plenary session, Mayor Jack, the Leader of the House, highlighted the end of this ultimatum.

After lengthy deliberations, the Assembly voted to effectively freeze the Rivers State Consolidated Revenue Account, preventing further expenditure by the Fubara administration without legislative approval.

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It is to be recalled that the Amaewhule-led Assembly had initially set a deadline of July 8, 2024, citing concerns over the constitutional violations by Governor Fubara. The Assembly, in a letter dated the same day and signed by Martin Amaewhule, accused the governor of failing to comply with the constitutional provisions.

The development came during the first sitting of the Assembly that sided with the faction supporting former Governor Nyesom Wike, marking a significant shift after months of political tension.

Previously, Governor Fubara had submitted the budget to another faction in the DPR, led by his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, who acts as the Speaker of the DPR. This faction approved the budget estimate, which was then signed into law by the governor.

The divisions between supporters of Governor Fubara and those aligned with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, have been a hallmark of Rivers State politics, often prompting interventions to mediate their differences.

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