The Nigerian Senate has officially passed the 2025 budget for Rivers State, totaling ₦1.485 trillion, following its third reading on June 19, 2025. This significant legislative action came after the upper chamber meticulously considered the report presented by the Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State during the Committee of Supply session. The appropriation bill authorizes the allocation of ₦1,485,662,592,442 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State for the fiscal year concluding on December 31, 2025.

The approved budget details a comprehensive financial plan, including ₦120.8 billion earmarked for debt servicing, ₦287.38 billion designated for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, and a substantial ₦1.077 trillion allocated for capital expenditure. The budget's passage underscores an urgent intervention aimed at revitalizing crucial sectors and addressing development challenges within Rivers State, particularly in areas such as infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, and security.

The genesis of this budget approval lies in President Bola Tinubu's submission of the 2025 Appropriation Bill for Rivers State to the National Assembly in May 2025. This extraordinary measure was necessitated by a state of emergency declared in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, following prolonged political disputes between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike. The Supreme Court had previously nullified the 2025 budget presented by the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara. In light of the emergency, President Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as the sole administrator to manage the state's affairs for an initial six-month period.

During the budget defense session, Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired chief of naval staff, disclosed that the initial budget estimate of ₦1.481 trillion had been increased to ₦1.846 trillion, an adjustment of approximately ₦365 billion. This increase was attributed to unplanned but essential expenditures incurred in the first quarter of 2025, prior to the declaration of emergency rule. These funds were reportedly utilized to stabilize critical sectors, maintain public services, and initiate emergency infrastructure repairs.

While supporting the budget's passage, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) raised a specific concern regarding an additional ₦50 billion allocated for the payment of outstanding pensions and gratuities. He urged the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee to undertake more rigorous oversight to ensure the timely and accurate disbursement of these funds to the rightful beneficiaries. Despite this concern, the lawmakers broadly supported the budget through voice votes during the plenary session. The 2025 Rivers State budget will now proceed for presidential assent, paving the way for its immediate implementation under the emergency administration.