The Senate has passed the 2025 Rivers Appropriation Bill of N1.48 trillion for second reading.
The bill was presented by the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti), who explained that the budget submission followed the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers by President Bola Tinubu on March 18 and the subsequent nullification of the state’s 2025 budget by the Supreme Court.
Bamidele said the budget proposal prioritised investment in critical sectors of the state, such as infrastructure, health, education, and agriculture.
The sum of N324 billion was being proposed for infrastructure, both ongoing and new projects, while N166 billion was earmarked for the health sector, including N5 billion for free drugs for treatment of malaria and other common ailments.
The budget also allocates N75.6 billion for the educational sector to improve learning environments and ensure access to free basic education.
In additional, N32 billion was earmarked for agricultural purposes, N6.2 billion for youth empowerment, and N5.2 billion for women affairs.
The budget would receive funding from federal allocation, internally generated revenue, statutory allocations, and Value Added Tax (VAT).
Bamidele said the budget aimed to promote inclusive growth and development with a focus on sustainable economic expansion and improved living conditions for residents.
After the bill was read the second time, President of Senate, Godswill Akpabio, referred it to the Ad-hoc Committee on Rivers Emergency Rule for further legislative inputs and to revert back to plenary in two weeks.
IBamidele urged lawmakers to support the second reading of the bill, saying it is designed to stabilize the state, restore critical services, and improve livelihoods.
