The Rivers State’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), has been given 48 hours by the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the state to provide a detailed breakdown of allocations in the proposed 2025 budget, including a contentious N24 billion for CCTV installation at the Government House.
Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, chairman of the committee and House Majority Leader, made the command during a budget defence session in Abuja.
Ihonvbere expressed worry about numerous items in the ₦1.48 trillion budget. He questioned the N24 billion CCTV allocation, N30 billion for gunboats, and N23 billion set aside as contingency funds.
He also condemned the lack of the constitutionally mandated Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and questioned the usage of state monies for federal projects in the absence of a reimbursement agreement.
“We need additional details for those allocations. We request details of Internally Generated Revenue in the last three months to weigh it against the budget deficit,” Ihonvbere said. “We also need details of transfers to local governments — how those funds are being managed.”
He insisted that the materials be submitted within 48 hours, emphasising the committee’s commitment to accountability and safeguarding the interests of all Rivers citizens. Ihonvbere also thanked President Bola Tinubu for re-establishing harmony between the state’s executive and legislature.
Responding, Ibas, represented by Senior Special Assistant Andrew Nweke, stated that numerous budget items were inherited. He defended the gunboat allocation as help for security services and the contingency money as necessary to cope with flooding and calamities.
Regarding the CCTV project, Nweke stated, “The office of the Governor is that of honour,” emphasising the need for sophisticated surveillance.
He assured the lawmakers that all requested documents would be immediately submitted.
