The Senate has announced that the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, along with other key state officials, will appear before a Joint National Assembly Ad-hoc Committee to defend the state’s 2025 budget.
This was made known on Tuesday during the inaugural meeting of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee to Oversee Emergency Rule in Rivers State, chaired by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, held at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Bamidele, who also serves as the Leader of the Senate, reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to ensuring good governance and financial transparency in Rivers State, following the declaration of emergency rule by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18, 2025.
“It is our understanding with our colleagues in the House of Representatives that the sole administrator and other relevant functionaries of the state will all appear before the joint ad-hoc committee of both chambers of the National Assembly when it is time for them to defend the 2025 budget,” Bamidele said.
The committee, constituted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, comprises 18 members and is tasked with overseeing the activities of the emergency administration in Rivers State.
Bamidele assured Nigerians that the National Assembly would maintain its oversight responsibility and ensure that the people of Rivers State are not left behind during the emergency governance period.
“The committee will guarantee that the democratic rule will continue to function in Rivers State despite the declaration of emergency rule.
“The Senate is committed to the rule of law as well as the tenets of democracy. I am also confident in the pedigree of the members of this ad-hoc committee to deliver on the role of overseeing the activities of the sole administrator of Rivers State,” he stated.
He emphasised that the 2025 budget had already been laid before the National Assembly by the Sole Administrator through the President and would be carefully scrutinised.
“The budget is being referred to our committee. The committee has just finalised its work plan and timetable to ensure proper budget defence by the sole administrator and other state officials, especially the Accountant-General of Rivers State, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, and relevant economic officials,” he stated.
Bamidele further pledged that the committee would be diligent, transparent, and thorough, adding:
He stated, “As much as possible, the National Assembly will ensure propriety in the discharge of our oversight functions. We will also ensure that governance does not suffer in Rivers State during the period of emergency rule.”
