The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, has ordered a complete halt to all expenditures in the state.
This decision comes after Governor Siminalayi Fubara failed to present the 2024 budget to the House within the 7-day ultimatum given to him.
The Assembly has resolved that the Governor is no longer authorized to approve or authorize any spending from the state’s consolidated revenue fund.
Additionally, Ministries are not permitted to spend public funds until the 2024 budget is presented.
This development follows a controversial budget signing in December 2023, where the Governor signed an 800 billion naira budget into law without presenting it to the current Assembly leadership.
The former factional speaker, Edison Ehie, who is now the Governor’s Chief of Staff, had presented the budget to the lawmakers.
The leadership of the Assembly has since changed, with Oko Jumbo taking over as the leader of the faction loyal to the governor.
