By Charles Pemu 
The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on the Political Crisis in Rivers State has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Sole Administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), to submit a comprehensive breakdown of major allocations in the proposed ₦1.48 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill.
Chairman of the committee and House Majority Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), handed down the directive during a budget defence session in Abuja on Monday.
According to Ihonvbere, the committee, after a preliminary review of the budget document, identified several questionable allocations requiring immediate clarification.
Among the major concerns is a staggering ₦24 billion earmarked for the installation of CCTV cameras at the Government House, which lawmakers described as excessive. The committee also demanded justification for the ₦30 billion allocated for the procurement of gunboats, and another ₦23 billion marked as contingency reserves.
In addition, Ihonvbere questioned the funding of federal government projects using state resources without formal agreements on reimbursement.
“We need a breakdown of these allocations and a copy of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which is a legally required precursor to budget presentation,” Ihonvbere stated.
The committee also demanded:
- Details of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the last three months,
- A report on transfers to local governments, including how local government allocations are currently managed.
“These documents must be submitted within 48 hours,” Ihonvbere warned. “Let me emphasize that our aim is to support the rebuilding of Rivers State through accountability, transparency, and respect for the interest of citizens—regardless of how far they are from the state capital.”
The Majority Leader commended President Bola Tinubu for his timely intervention in the state’s political crisis, noting that the President’s effort was instrumental in restoring a measure of peace between the suspended executive and legislature.