ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has submitted the proposed 2025 budget of Rivers State to the National Assembly for consideration and passage, citing the ongoing emergency rule in the state and a recent Supreme Court ruling that nullified the initial state budget.
The President’s request, transmitted to lawmakers on Thursday, May 22, 2025, seeks approval for a total expenditure of N1.481 trillion.
In his letter, Tinubu noted that the Rivers State House of Assembly is not currently in session due to the imposition of emergency rule, which constitutionally compels the National Assembly to assume legislative duties on behalf of the state.
“In view of the nullification of the 2025 budget of the State by the Supreme Court and the fact the State is under emergency rule, the National Assembly is to consider and pass the budget,” the President stated.
The proposed budget allocates N324 billion for infrastructure, N166 billion for health, N75.6 billion for education, and N31.4 billion for agriculture.
Tinubu also highlighted that the agricultural component of the budget is expected to generate approximately 6,000 jobs.
Appealing for swift legislative action, the President urged federal lawmakers to expedite the budget’s passage “for the good of the State.”
The Supreme Court’s recent invalidation of Rivers State’s 2025 budget followed legal challenges surrounding procedural irregularities amid ongoing political tensions in the state.
The imposition of emergency rule, declared earlier this year, has suspended normal legislative activity in the state as federal authorities move to stabilise governance structures.
The National Assembly is now expected to deliberate on the budget proposal in the coming days, as attention turns to how swiftly it can act to ensure continuity of government services and capital projects in the oil-rich state.
