The Senate has announced that Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd.), Sole Administrator of Rivers State, along with other key state officials, will appear before the Joint National Assembly Ad-hoc Committee to defend the state’s 2025 budget.
This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Senate Leader and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Emergency Rule in Rivers State, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, during the committee’s inaugural meeting held at the New Senate Wing, National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
The budget was submitted last week to the National Assembly through President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who had declared a state of emergency in Rivers on March 18, 2025. In response, the Senate constituted an 18-member ad-hoc committee to oversee governance under emergency rule.
Senator Bamidele assured Nigerians that the National Assembly is committed to ensuring the people of Rivers State are not deprived of good governance or development due to the emergency administration.
“We are determined to work closely with our colleagues in the House of Representatives to ensure financial propriety and good governance in Rivers State. The sole administrator and other relevant state functionaries will appear before the joint ad-hoc committee to defend the 2025 budget,” Bamidele said.
He emphasized that the committee’s oversight will reinforce democratic governance in the state despite the temporary suspension of elected structures.
“Our inaugural meeting is a necessary step to carry out our mandate effectively. The committee will guarantee that democratic principles remain intact in Rivers State,” he noted.
The meeting was attended by several ranking senators, including Senate Chief Whip Tahir Munguno; Deputy Chief Whip Peter Nwebonyi; Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Adamu Aliero; Chairman, Finance Committee, Senator Sani Musa; Chairman, Banking and Insurance Committee, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru; and Chairperson, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Committee, Senator Oluranti Adebule.
Bamidele revealed that the joint committee has finalized its work plan and schedule for the budget defence process. Key Rivers State officials expected to appear include the Accountant-General, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and other economic stakeholders.
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He reiterated the National Assembly’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring the emergency rule does not compromise service delivery or democratic governance.
“The Senate is committed to ensuring accountability and continuity in governance during this emergency period. We will be diligent and thorough in our oversight responsibilities,” Bamidele added.
