The Senate has announced that Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd), along with key state officials, will appear before a Joint National Assembly Ad-hoc Committee to defend the state’s 2025 budget.
The announcement was made on Tuesday during the inaugural meeting of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Emergency Rule in Rivers State, chaired by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
Bamidele reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to promoting good governance and ensuring financial accountability in Rivers State, following the declaration of emergency rule by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18, 2025.
“In agreement with our colleagues in the House of Representatives, the sole administrator and other relevant state officials will appear before the joint ad-hoc committee to defend the 2025 budget,” Bamidele said.
The 18-member committee, constituted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, is tasked with overseeing the activities of the emergency administration in Rivers State.
Bamidele assured the public that the National Assembly would exercise full oversight during this period to ensure that governance in the state remains effective and inclusive.
“This committee will ensure that democratic principles continue to operate in Rivers State despite the emergency rule. The Senate remains committed to upholding the rule of law and democratic values,” he said.
He noted that the 2025 budget, submitted to the National Assembly by the sole administrator through the President, has been referred to the ad-hoc committee for scrutiny.
“The committee has completed its work plan and timetable to ensure a thorough budget defense process involving the sole administrator, the state Accountant-General, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and other key economic officials,” Bamidele added.
He further pledged that the committee would be diligent, transparent, and focused on ensuring effective governance throughout the emergency period.
“As much as possible, we will guarantee propriety in carrying out our oversight duties and ensure that governance in Rivers State does not suffer under emergency rule,” he concluded.