The House of Representatives’ Ad hoc Committee on Rivers State has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Sole Administration of the state, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, to submit a breakdown of major items in the 2025 N1.48 trillion Appropriation Bill.
The Chairman of the committee, Julius Ihonvbere (APC-Edo), issued the ultimatum on Monday at a budget defense session in Abuja.
He said that the committee had gone through the budget as presented by the sole administrator and had raised several issues, adding that the administrator should submit the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which is a legal document that should precede budget presentation.
Ihonvbere, who is the Majority Leader of the House, queried the allocation of 24 billion naira for CCTV cameras to be installed at the state government house, demanding the breakdown.
He also queried the allocation of 30 billion naira for the purchase of gunboats and 23 billion naira earmarked for contingency reserves, requesting justification for the sum.
The chairman said that the committee also observed and questioned the allocation of state funds to existing federal projects without agreement with the Federal Government, including refunds, among others. CHN/CK
