Senate Approves N1.485 Trillion 2025 Budget for Rivers State

The Nigerian Senate has approved the 2025 budget for Rivers State, amounting to ₦1.485 trillion, following a third reading and adoption of the appropriation bill during plenary on Wednesday.

The passage came after the upper chamber considered the report of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State during the Committee of Supply session.

According to the approved budget breakdown, ₦120.8 billion has been allocated for debt servicing, ₦287.38 billion for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, and a substantial ₦1.077 trillion for capital projects across the state.

Notably, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) backed the budget’s passage but raised concerns over an additional ₦50 billion earmarked for outstanding pensions and gratuities. He urged the Ad-Hoc Committee to intensify oversight efforts to ensure the timely and transparent disbursement of these funds to rightful pensioners.

The budget, which now awaits assent and implementation, was submitted by President Bola Tinubu in May, following the suspension of the Rivers State House of Assembly. In a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu emphasized the need to sustain governance in the state, noting that the Supreme Court had earlier nullified a prior budget presented by suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The president also sought concurrent approval from the House of Representatives, highlighting that the proposed spending plan aims to revitalize key sectors in the state and maintain fiscal stability amid ongoing political challenges.