The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Rivers State has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), demanding a comprehensive breakdown of allocations in the proposed 2025 budget — most notably, the staggering N24 billion earmarked for CCTV installation in the Government House.
During a budget defence session in Abuja on Monday, the committee chairman and House Majority Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), expressed grave concern over multiple questionable items in the N1.48 trillion budget proposal.
CCTV, Gunboats, and ‘Contingencies’ Under Scrutiny
Dr Ihonvbere specifically questioned the rationale behind allocating N24 billion for CCTV systems at the Government House, calling it excessive and demanding a detailed cost breakdown.
He also queried the planned expenditure of N30 billion for the purchase of gunboats and a further N23 billion set aside as contingency reserves. He insisted that all such allocations must be fully justified.
The committee further raised alarm over the state government’s funding of federal projects without any prior reimbursement agreement with the Federal Government, deeming it fiscally irresponsible.
Call for Transparency on State Finances and LG Funds
The committee chairman requested the immediate submission of several key documents, including:
- The Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which by law should precede any budget presentation;
- A three-month report on the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR);
- Full details of transfers to local governments and the current management structure of LG funds.
“These documents are essential for assessing how the budget can be realistically funded and how projects can be executed efficiently,” Ihonvbere stated. “We are committed to ensuring that every Rivers resident, regardless of their location, benefits from state resources. Transparency and accountability are non-negotiable.”
He emphasised that all requested documents must be submitted within 48 hours and commended President Bola Tinubu for his peace-brokering efforts that calmed the rift between the suspended executive and legislature in Rivers State.
Sole Administrator’s Response: ‘We Inherited These Budget Lines’
Representing Vice Admiral Ibas at the session, Andrew Nweke, Senior Special Assistant on Strategy and Policy, explained that many of the allocations were inherited from previous drafts.
Nweke insisted the proposed budget was based on the outcome of a needs assessment conducted by implementing agencies, claiming it reflects the true interests of Rivers people.
READ ALSO
On the N30 billion for gunboats, Nweke said the funds were to support security agencies combatting piracy and insecurity across Rivers’ waterways. He also defended the N23 billion contingency allocation, arguing that the state faces recurring natural disasters such as floods and insecurity, which require flexible emergency funding.
Regarding the CCTV installation, he said the Governor’s Office should be “a place of honour and security,” justifying the N24 billion with a vague reference to “modern technology surveillance.”
Nweke assured the committee that all requested documents would be made available promptly to facilitate the legislative review process.
