In a rare move prompted by constitutional provisions, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded a proposed ₦1.481 trillion budget for Rivers State to the National Assembly for approval. This development follows the Supreme Court’s recent annulment of the state’s 2025 budget and the current suspension of the Rivers State House of Assembly due to emergency rule.
In a formal communication to the federal legislature on Thursday, President Tinubu explained that with the state’s legislative body not in session, the National Assembly is constitutionally empowered to assume its functions in such situations, as outlined in the amended 1999 Constitution.
The President detailed the proposed budget’s allocations, highlighting key investment areas aimed at stimulating economic activity and improving service delivery. Of the total amount, ₦324 billion is earmarked for infrastructure development, ₦166 billion for healthcare, ₦75.6 billion for the education sector, and ₦31.4 billion for agriculture.
The agricultural component of the budget is expected to play a significant role in job creation, with projections indicating it could generate around 6,000 employment opportunities across the state.
President Tinubu urged lawmakers to expedite the passage of the appropriation bill, emphasizing its importance for sustaining development and governance in Rivers State amid ongoing challenges.
