Rivers State lawmakers loyal to former governor and FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, has suspended 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 the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the governor to present his budget for the 2024 fiscal year.
The Leader of the House, Major Jack, raised a motion informing the assembly of the expired deadline, prompting deliberations.
After discussions, the assembly voted to shut down the Rivers State Consolidated Revenue Account, effectively preventing the Fubara administration from accessing state funds.
In a previous report by Chronicle NG, the Amaewhule-led assembly had on July 8 given Governor Fubara a seven-day deadline to resubmit the 2024 budget. The assembly also accused him of violating provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
In a letter dated July 8, 2024, and signed by Speaker Amaewhule, the House outlined the constitutional breaches committed by the governor. This action took place during the first session of the pro-Wike House after a hiatus of several months.
Governor Fubara had initially presented the budget to a faction of the House, with his current Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, presiding as Speaker.
The pro-Fubara lawmakers passed the budget estimates, which the governor subsequently signed into law.
The ongoing political conflict between Governor Fubara’s loyalists and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, continues to prompt interventions aimed at resolving their differences.
