By peterside Rejoice Eneky
The Senate has announced that Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, along with other key 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 to Oversee Emergency Rule in Rivers State, held at the New Senate Wing, National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the committee, revealed that both the Senate and House of Representatives had agreed to hold joint sessions to conduct detailed oversight of the Rivers State budget, which was presented by the Sole Administrator through President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last week.
Bamidele assured Nigerians that the National Assembly is committed to ensuring financial transparency and good governance in Rivers State despite the ongoing emergency rule declared by President Tinubu on March 18.
“It is our understanding that the sole administrator and other relevant functionaries will appear before the joint committee to defend the 2025 budget at the National Assembly,” Senator Bamidele said, promising effective oversight of the state government’s finances.
The committee meeting was attended by prominent senators, including Senator Tahir Munguno (Chief Whip), Senator Peter Nwebonyi (Deputy Chief Whip), Senator Adamu Aliero (Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport), Senator Sani Musa (Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance), Senator Adetokunbo Abiru (Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions), and Senator Oluranti Adebule (Chairperson, Senate Committee on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction).
Senator Bamidele emphasized that the committee’s role is critical to ensuring that democratic governance continues in Rivers State during the emergency rule period.
“The Senate is committed to the rule of law and democracy. We are confident the committee will effectively oversee the activities of the sole administrator,” he stated.
He urged all committee members to be diligent in their oversight responsibilities to protect the interests of Rivers State citizens, warning against any attempt to shortchange the people due to the emergency rule.
The committee has finalized its work plan and timetable to ensure a thorough budget defense process. Besides the sole administrator, other officials expected to appear before the committee include the Accountant-General of Rivers State, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and other economic officers.
“The National Assembly will ensure propriety in oversight functions and that governance in Rivers State remains uninterrupted during this period,” Senator Bamidele concluded.
The emergency rule in Rivers State was declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18, 2025, following rising security challenges in the region. The National Assembly’s oversight aims to maintain accountability and safeguard democratic norms under the interim administration.
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