The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), has stated that the proposed N1.48 trillion budget for 2025 makes provisions for the return of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other affected political officeholders.
Ibas made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja while appearing before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight to defend the budget proposal.
He explained that the draft budget aligns with the strategic objectives of the Rivers State Development Plan (2017–2027), and provides a framework to boost revenue generation, fast-track infrastructure development, enhance human capital, and foster inclusive economic growth across various sectors.
“In anticipation of the eventual return to constitutional order, the draft budget prudently retains provisions for the offices and functions of suspended political actors, some of whom have already drawn on allocated resources in the first quarter and are expected to resume their duties at the expiration of the emergency period,” he said.
Ibas, however, expressed concern over the refusal of some state officials to provide essential information needed for the preparation of the budget.
“Regrettably, some state officials withheld critical information required to ensure a more complete capture of those expenditures at the time of submission of the budget estimates,” he added.
