The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Rivers State has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), demanding a detailed breakdown of allocations in the proposed 2025 budget, including the contentious N24 billion earmarked for installing CCTV cameras at the Government House.
Chairman of the committee and House Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, issued the directive during a budget defence session on Monday in Abuja.
Ihonvbere expressed concerns over several provisions in the N1.48 trillion budget, questioning not only the CCTV allocation but also N30 billion set aside for gunboats and N23 billion reserved as contingency funds. He further criticised the absence of a Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), required by law, and queried why state funds were being used for federal projects without any refund agreement in place.
“We need additional details for those allocations,” Ihonvbere said. “We also request details of Internally Generated Revenue in the last three months to weigh it against the budget deficit, as well as information on transfers to local governments and how those funds are managed.”
He insisted the documents must be submitted within 48 hours, reaffirming the committee’s commitment to accountability and the protection of Rivers residents’ interests. Ihonvbere also commended President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace between the state’s Executive and Legislature.
Responding on behalf of Ibas, Senior Special Assistant Andrew Nweke explained that many budget items were inherited from previous administrations.
He defended the N30 billion allocation for gunboats as essential support for security agencies and said the contingency fund was necessary to address flooding and emergencies.
Regarding the CCTV project, Nweke stated, “The office of the Governor is that of honour,” adding that modern surveillance was crucial for security. He assured lawmakers that all requested documents would be submitted within the stipulated timeframe.