In a dramatic turn of events, the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, has given Governor Siminalayi Fubara a 7-day deadline to resubmit the 2024 budget.
This move comes after the Assembly’s first session following a prolonged hiatus.
The development is a significant blow to Governor Fubara, who had earlier presented the budget to a faction of lawmakers aligned with him.
The pro-Fubara lawmakers, led by Chief of Staff Edison Ehie, had passed the budget into law.
However, the Amaewhule-led Assembly has declared that move invalid, citing procedural irregularities, according to Politics Nigeria.
The Assembly’s ultimatum has thrown the state’s budget process into chaos, raising concerns about the implications for governance in Rivers State.
The crisis in the Assembly has been ongoing for months, with a parallel session led by Victor Oko-Jumbo holding sessions separately.
The political stalemate has paralyzed the state’s legislative activities, sparking tensions between the different factions.
The 7-day ultimatum has raised the stakes, and all eyes are on Governor Fubara’s next move.
