The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Rivers State has raised serious concerns over several allocations in the state’s proposed 2025 budget, including a controversial N24 billion earmarked for CCTV installation at the Government House. The committee has given the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), a 48-hour deadline to provide a detailed breakdown of these expenditures.
During a budget defense session in Abuja on Monday, the committee’s chairman and House Majority Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), expressed unease with various line items within the proposed N1.48 trillion Appropriation Bill.
“We have gone through the budget as presented by the sole administrator and have raised several issues,” Ihonvbere stated. He specifically demanded the submission of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), emphasizing its legal requirement as a precursor to budget presentation.
Beyond the hefty CCTV allocation, the committee also questioned a N30 billion provision for the purchase of gunboats and a N23 billion contingency reserve, requesting full justification for these substantial sums. Additionally, the committee flagged the allocation of state funds to existing federal projects without agreements for federal government refunds.
Rep. Ihonvbere also requested detailed information on the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the past three months to assess financial flows against the budget deficit. He further sought clarity on transfers to local governments, aiming to understand how these funds are currently being managed.
“Those documents we have requested must reach us within 48 hours; be rest assured that we are all on the same side in terms of getting Rivers working again,” Ihonvbere asserted, stressing the committee’s commitment to promoting accountability and protecting the interests of all Rivers citizens. He also commended President Bola Tinubu for his role in fostering peace between the state’s executive and legislative arms.
Andrew Nweke, Senior Special Assistant on Strategy and Policy, represented Vice Admiral Ibas and explained that many of the budget items were inherited by the current administration. He maintained that the budget reflects the interests of Rivers people, designed based on needs assessments by implementing agencies.
Nweke highlighted Rivers State’s unique challenges, explaining that the N30 billion for gunboats is intended to bolster security agencies’ efforts against waterway insecurity. He added that the N23 billion contingency fund addresses the state’s vulnerability to floods, insecurity, and other unforeseen circumstances.
Regarding the N24 billion for Government House CCTV, Nweke justified it by stating that the Governor’s office “is that of honour,” necessitating modern security surveillance and other technological upgrades. He assured the committee that all requested documents would be promptly provided to facilitate the legislative process.
