Rivers state Sole Administrator, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) has accused some suspected State officials of failure to provide the administration with useful information required to prepare the 2025 budget proposal.

This is as the administrator may have confirmed reports that his six months emergency rule may not be extended by President Bola Tinubu, when it expires in September.

Rear Admiral Ibas explained that the proposed N1.48trn Rivers 2025 budget was planned to make provisions for the return of suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and other affected political officeholders.

Ibas made this known in Abuja on Wednesday while defending the budget before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight.

He noted that the proposed budget aligns with the strategic objectives of the River State Development Plan 2017-2027, adding that the budget presents a strategic and integrated framework designed to raise revenues and accelerate infrastructure development, enhance human capital, and promote inclusive economic growth across all sectors.

He said, “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.

“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.

“However, recognizing the exigencies under the state of emergency and the need to ensure fiscal credibility, the budget framework integrates expenditure information made available before the submission of the budget proposal to ratify the first quarter expenditures in a lawful and transparent structure.

“This ensures alignment with statutory appropriation protocols while safeguarding the integrity of public finance management.”

The budget, totaling N1.48tn in expenditure with a projected N1.4tn in revenue, was transmitted to the National Assembly following presidential approval after the Supreme Court ruled on the legality of the Rivers State 2025 appropriation process.

Ibas listed the major allocations to include N324.50bn for infrastructure and transportation projects; N55bn to relocate and expand Rivers State University Teaching Hospital; N50bn for zonal hospital upgrades; N38.85bn for shoreline protection and erosion control; N30bn for zonal secondary schools and N5.75bn for primary school rehabilitation.

Others are N2.5bn for women’s economic empowerment and N3bn for youth resource centers; N20bn to recapitalize Rivers State Microfinance Bank for Medium and Small Scale Enterprises support, and N117bn in pension, gratuities, and employee benefits.

Responding, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Rivers State oversight, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, commended the sole administrator for the detailed presentation and affirmed the committee’s readiness to partner with the administrator in restoring peace and development to Rivers State.