The Rivers State House of Assembly may be preparing for a confrontation with the immediate past Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), after the latter decided to look into the state’s spending during the previous few months under the former.
After President Bola Tinubu ordered Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended state governor, his deputy, and the members of the state House of Assembly to return to their positions from the previous Thursday, Ibas resigned as administrator of the oil-rich state on September 17, the day after the six-month emergency rule ended.
In its first plenary following the end of emergency rule, the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, declared that it would look into state spending during the six-month period.
According to the resolutions of the House, “To explore the process of knowing what transpired during the emergency rule with regard to spending from the consolidated revenue fund for the award of contracts and other expenditure.”
The Federation Account Allocation Committee gave Rivers State at least N254.37 billion between March and August 2025 while the sole administrator was in office, according to the findings.
An study of FAAC data from the National Bureau of Statistics and additional sources served as the basis for this figure.
The data for July and August were compiled from documents presented at FAAC meetings that were obtained and examined, even though the NBS has published official breakdowns up to June.
According to NBS, Rivers earned N44.66 billion in March, N44.42 billion in April, N42.80 billion in May, and N42.30 billion in June.
According to the documents examined, the state received around N38.42 billion in July and N41.76 billion in August.
As a result, net allocations for the six months totaled N254.37 billion, or N42.40 billion per month on average.
Rivers’ inflows could approach N297 billion in seven months if September continues on the same trajectory.
The way these allocations are structured, however, emphasizes how heavily the state depends on the 13% revenue from oil.
According to a breakdown, the largest single source of income was still the 13% oil derivation.
Rivers earned N133.24 billion in derivation between March and August, which is around 52.4% of its FAAC allotment.
Derivation was N25.29 billion in March, almost five times the statutory allocation of N5.14 billion. In May, it was N25.70 billion, compared to the statutory allocation of N6.05 billion.
Even after derivation fell to N20.94 billion in June, it was still more than all other components combined.
Considering that over half of Rivers’ revenue comes from sources related to oil, this dominance highlights the risk of volatility.
One of the biggest strains on the state’s budget has been debt servicing. Between March and August, Rivers lost N26.31bn to external debt or foreign loan deductions.
This comprised a constant N4.56bn monthly from March through July and a lower N3.54bn in August.
Before other responsibilities like contractual deductions, environmental transfers, and VAT adjustments were applied, the deductions, which accounted for more than 10% of the state’s statutory allocation throughout the period, severely reduced its gross receipts.
Nevertheless, the N107.78 billion in VAT receipts—roughly 42.4% of the entire FAAC net allocation—provided a significant buffer.
March, April, May, June, July, and August saw the state earn N18.24 billion, N21.02 billion, N14.56 billion, N19.76 billion, N17.62 billion, and N16.58 billion.
Despite significant deductions, Rivers’ net receipts were increased by inflows under the Electronic Money Transfer Levy, environmental funds, and exchange gains.
Residents and civil society have been unable to ascertain how the billions have been allocated to major projects, salaries, pensions, or ongoing expenses due to the lack of this report.
Due in large part to a power struggle between former Governor Nyesom Wike and his successor Fubara, Rivers State had been embroiled in political unrest for almost two years, leading to a protracted impasse in governance.
On March 18, 2025, President Bola Tinubu responded to the issue by imposing a state of emergency in Rivers State and imposing a six-month suspension on Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly.
This came after he declared a state of emergency in the South South state, which is wealthy in oil.
According to him, the decision was taken in an effort to bring stability back to the state, which has been going through political unrest as a result of the governor’s and parliamentarians’ disagreements.
Tinubu said that the emergency action was required to bring about peace, citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.
The proclamation has been sent to the National Assembly and published in the Federal Gazette, he added.
In spite of strong public opposition, the President’s proclamation was approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives two days later, on March 20, thereby suspending Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly for mandatory holidays.
Eleven governors from the PDP filed a case in the Supreme Court, registered as SC/CV/329/2025, protesting what they saw as an unconstitutional action. Since then, though, there has been no public update on the situation.
The political situation in Rivers has improved since Wike and Fubara reconciled.
The ruling All Progressives Congress won 20 seats in the state’s August 30 local government elections, while the PDP took the remaining three.
As Rivers State gets ready for Fubara’s return on September 18 after the state’s six-month emergency rule, the single administrator justified his tenure, saying he carried out President Bola Tinubu’s directive and stabilized the oil-rich state, according to a story published Monday.
Opposition parties and civil society organizations, however, demanded that Iba’s tenure be looked into, specifically how he handled state resources during his six-month time at Brick House.
CSO demands probe
In the meantime, Rivers State’s civil society organizations have called on the single administrator to answer for the funds the state got from FAAC.
Enefaa Georgewill, the chairman of Rivers State’s Coalition of Civil Society Organizations, called the procedure that installed the sole administrator unlawful and maintained that his use of public funds since March was dubious.
According to Georgewill, the state’s overall receipt merely strengthened suspicions of poor administration.
He clarified that despite the significant influxes, the majority of the state’s large projects, such as the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex, were still on hold.
Therefore, Georgewill urged Governor Fubara to form an inquiry panel to determine both federal and domestically generated revenue and to look into the spending of the funds.
He emphasized that civil society suspects corruption and would not back down from demanding inspection, adding that financial regulatory bodies must also do their share to examine the state’s finances under Ibas.
“To find out how much he received in terms of federal allocation and internally generated revenue, as well as how he spent it,” Georgewill stated, “we will be calling on the Rivers State Governor to form a panel of inquiry.” We suspect corruption, which is why. The House of Assembly Complex, which he attempted to touch but was unable to complete, is among the key projects that are blocked. Therefore, we will be urging the governor and financial oversight organizations to inquire about the expenditure of Rivers State funds.
Similar worries were also expressed by Emma Obe, the spokesperson for the Civil Liberties Organization in Rivers, who maintained that the state’s current setup amounted to an unlawful emergency administration that did not adhere to constitutional guidelines.
Obe noted that the National Assembly passed the 2025 budget without holding public hearings or other required procedures, which prevented the Rivers people from knowing what was being spent for them.
Obe stated, “We have always maintained that the government of Rivers State has been acting unlawfully under this emergency rule as it has not complied with the Constitution’s requirements. Therefore, everything they have been doing is based on this, and we have consistently demanded responsibility.
“A government cannot exist without accountability. We are all aware of what has occurred thus far. For example, the state budget was approved by the National Assembly without undergoing all required procedures, such as public hearings, where the public should be informed about the budget’s contents.
However, this government needs to report on what they have already received. It is insufficient for them to arrive, stay for six months, and then depart without informing the State’s citizens of their activities, financial decisions, and other details. Naturally, if this isn’t done, we have the remedies at our disposal, and any Rivers State resident can request them. And whomever spends public funds without keeping track of them will be held accountable, if not now, then at some point in the future. We won’t simply take it easy.
The leaders of civil society reaffirmed calls for a thorough public investigation of the state’s finances since March, arguing that the administration has not shown transparency in spite of the enormous FAAC receipts.
Ibas kicks
Ibas responded to the House of Assembly’s attempt to look into spending during his term by claiming that the lawmakers didn’t have the authority to do so because they didn’t name him Administrator of the State.
In response to inquiries from our reporter via his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubu, on Sunday, Ibas stated that it was reasonable that the lawmakers were only attempting to carry out their duties after being away from the legislative process for some time.
However, he called the parliamentarians’ decision “commentary,” adding that the attempt to question the former administrator amounted to questioning both the National Assembly, which oversaw Ibas’s actions as the state administrator at the time, and the President, who selected him.
Igbikiowubu asserts that although no one can stop the Assembly from investigating what they believe to be their roles within the state, it would be a “fool’s errand” to try to investigate the state’s most recent administrator.
Was the administrator chosen by the Assembly, as you mentioned, when they said they would look into the administrator’s tenure?
The important thing to remember is that commentary is free. People will continue to run remarks despite your efforts. You will understand that the House of Assembly has been unable to carry out its duties for a considerable amount of time because it has been on vacation,” Igbikiowubu .
They must try to fulfill their responsibilities now that they have resumed. Therefore, it will appear that they have a right to investigate the state’s problems. No one can stop the MPs from investigating what they believe to be their roles in the government.
However, as I previously inquired, did they appoint the administrator? It follows that you have certain limitations if you did not designate the administrator. When you also know that the administrator was nominated by the President, it goes without reason that the administrator acted for and on behalf of the President.”
He continued, “When you also reason that the administrator was supervised by the National Assembly, it goes without reason that when you decide to probe the administrator, you’re invariably saying that you will be probing the administrator and the National Assembly.
Thus, I hope their plan and their investigation go well. But you and I know that such an attempt amounts to a fool’s errand.”
Fubara
As he continues his journey as governor, Governor Fubara has urged the state’s citizens and church to continue to pray fervently.
The governor noted that prayers and intercessions have been the foundation of his strength and would continue to be crucial as he strives to fulfill his mission to the people. He returned to formal duties after the six-month emergency rule ended.
In his first public appearance since returning to work, Fubara made the plea on Sunday at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Opobo Town, which is the state’s headquarters for the Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area. He was there for a Thanksgiving ceremony.
“I am here with my wife this first Sunday after the suspension of the state of emergency. We cannot thank God enough as a family. Our being here is private; we simply came to worship in our home church. When my story ends, this church will lead me to my next journey.” “So, it is important that I come here to say thank you quietly before the Almighty God for what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will continue to do, not just for me and my family, but for this state and Nigeria,” Fubara said in a statement to Governor Nelson Chukwudi.
Fubara emphasized that their prayers had been heard and thanked the Opobo people for years of fasting and intercession on his behalf. He compared prayers to bank accounts that paid dividends when they were due.
In keeping with the celebration of the International Day of Peace, the Governor further emphasized the value of peace in promoting harmony and progress.
As his administration forges a new path of leadership, Fubara reaffirmed his commitment to serving the Rivers people and asked for prayers and support.
