By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate, asking the Red Chamber to approve N1.48trn for Rivers State as its 2025 budget.
This was contained in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio at yesterday’s plenary.
Tinubu explained that the proposed budget includes N324bn for infrastructure development, N166bn for health, N75.6bn for education, N31.4bn for agriculture, and N5bn for the free distribution of drugs across all categories of people in the state.
He also noted that the budget prioritises the creation of 6,000 jobs.
The letter read in part, “Please find forwarded herewith the 2025 Appropriation Bill for Rivers State for the consideration of the Senate.
“The Distinguished Senate may wish to recall that Rivers State is under emergency rule, which was proclaimed and duly gazetted in March 2025. Regulation 4, subsection 2(f) of the Emergency Rule 2025 requires authorisation for expenditure from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State without a functioning state assembly.
“It is expected that the National Assembly acts on behalf of the state assembly, hence this request for Senate approval of the Rivers State Government 2025 Appropriation Bill.
“The total sum of N1.481trn is allocated for ongoing and new infrastructure projects. N166bn is earmarked for the health sector, including N5bn for free drugs to treat malaria and other common ailments.
“The sum of N75.6bn is proposed for the education sector, while N31.4bn is allocated for agriculture.
“This spending plan prioritises investment in critical sectors such as infrastructure, health, education, and agriculture, which is projected to generate approximately 6,000 jobs.”
Tinubu concluded, “Accordingly, I hereby forward the Rivers State Government 2025 Appropriation Bill and trust that it will receive the expeditious and favourable consideration of the Senate.
“Please accept, Distinguished Senate President and Distinguished Senators, the assurances of my highest regards.”
Following the letter’s reading, Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate ad-hoc committee on Rivers State and urged the committee to report back as soon as practicable.
The Senate approved Tinubu’s request to impose a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 20. On May 6, it inaugurated an ad hoc committee to oversee the administration of the emergency rule in the state.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) chairs the committee. Other members include Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), Osita Izunaso (Imo), Osita Ngwu (Enugu), Kaka Shehu (Borno), Aminu Abass (Adamawa), Tokunbo Abiru (Lagos), and Adeniyi Adegbonmire (Ondo).
Others are Sani Musa (Niger), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Asuquo Ekpeyong (Cross River), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Ireti Kingibe (FCT), Onyekachi Nwebonyi (Ebonyi), Idiat Adebule (Lagos), Ede Dafinone (Delta), Mohammed Nakudu (Jigawa), and the Clerk of the Senate, Andrew Nwoba.
