Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has emphasized that the emergency rule imposed in Rivers State is not a replacement for democratic governance.
Speaking in Abuja during the defense of Rivers' N1.4 trillion 2025 budget, Bamidele clarified the purpose of the emergency administration.
Bamidele described the emergency rule as a constitutional tool aimed at restoring order during crises, citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He emphasized that emergency rule is an extraordinary measure designed to restore order, peace, and stability in times of disorder and conflict.
As chair of the Senate ad hoc committee overseeing the emergency administration, Bamidele stated that the committee's mandate extends beyond budget review to ensuring effective use of allocated funds to benefit Rivers State residents.
“As representatives of the people, we are not only tasked with evaluating figures, but also with ensuring the faithful execution of the budget,” he added.
"The Senate plans continuous oversight to track project implementation and evaluate impacts on sectors including roads, education, health, and security. “Our objective is to ensure that approved funds translate into meaningful development,” Bamidele said.
“When allocations on paper become tangible solutions on the ground, citizens’ trust in governance is restored.”
Ibok-Ete Ibas, sole administrator of Rivers State, informed the committee that some state officials withheld crucial financial records needed to account for first-quarter expenditures.
He acknowledged that the 2025 budget proposal “may not be a perfect document” due to challenges faced during its preparation.
“Some state officials withheld critical information required to ensure a more complete capture of expenditures undertaken in the first quarter,” Ibas said. He noted that the budget aligns with the Rivers State development plan (2017–2027) and is designed to enhance infrastructure, drive economic growth, and improve human capital development.
“The budget is crafted as a people-centred fiscal blueprint, responsive to present challenges and future development imperatives,” Ibas stated.
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