The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, has stopped all expenditures by Governor Siminalayi Fubara until he presents his budget to the lawmakers. This decision was made during a plenary session on Monday, following a seven-day ultimatum given to the governor to submit his budget to the House.
House Leader Major Jack raised a motion informing the assembly about the expiration of the ultimatum for the governor to present the 2024 budget. After deliberation, the House voted to shut down the Rivers State Consolidated Revenue Account, effectively preventing Fubara’s administration from spending any money on behalf of the state.
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On July 8, the Amaewhule-led Assembly issued the ultimatum, accusing Fubara of breaching the provisions of the amended 1999 Constitution. A letter dated July 8, 2024, signed by Amaewhule and sent to Fubara on Monday, detailed the constitutional breaches committed by the governor. This order was issued during the first session of the pro-Wike House after a hiatus of several months.
Fubara had previously presented the budget to a different faction, with his current Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, presiding as Speaker. Ehie and the pro-Fubara lawmakers passed the budget estimates, which the governor then signed into law.
The ongoing political crisis between Fubara’s loyalists and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, continues to be marked by repeated interventions to resolve their differences.
READ ALSO: Amaewhule-Led Assembly Issues 7-Day Ultimatum for Fubara to Resubmit 2024 Budget
