The Rivers State Government has accused the State House of Assembly of obstructing Governor Siminalayi Fubara from fully implementing the Supreme Court judgment..
Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt on Monday, the state Commissioner for Information, Joseph Johnson, stated that Governor Fubara had remained committed to implementing the court’s verdict, despite its unfavorable outcome.
Johnson accused the Assembly of deliberately preventing the governor from executing the court’s verdict.
He emphasized that Fubara has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to peace and prioritizing the interests of Rivers people above personal or sectional considerations.
According to the commissioner, the governor has already begun implementing the judgment, directing the sacked local government chairmen to immediately hand over to the Heads of Local Government Administrations, HLGAs.
He also highlighted that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, under its chairman, Hon. Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd.), has fixed August 9, 2025, for fresh local government elections in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling.
The commissioner detailed Governor Fubara’s efforts to present the 2025 budget.
Recall that the governor, through a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, invited the lawmakers to discuss the issues surrounding the Supreme Court judgement, but the invitation was ignored and heavily criticized.
Fubara later issued and personally signed another letter to the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, notifying him of his intention to present the budget on March 12, 2025.
The governor alleged that despite follow-up calls to the Speaker on his plans to present the budget, he and government officials were denied access to the Legislative Quarters, where the lawmakers currently hold their sittings.
The state government expressed concern that the Assembly denied receiving proper communication from the governor, “falsely claiming that his letter was only read on social media.”
Responding to an allegation by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Enemi George, that the governor was frustrating the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment, Johnson stated that Governor Fubara made further efforts by publishing the most recent letter sent to the Assembly on budget presentation in two national newspapers to ensure transparency, after different attempts to present the budget were blocked by the Assembly.
Johnson, however, said the state government cannot produce an acknowledged copy of the letter sent to the Assembly, “because the Assembly rejected the letter from the Governor.”
“Just last Friday, March 14, 2025, Governor Siminalayi Fubara in keeping with his resolve to do the needful, sent another letter personally signed by him to the House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Amaewhule, again to notify him and members of the RSHA under his leadership, indicating his plan to come to re-present the 2025 budget to them on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 or any other day that may be convenient to the House, in compliance with the Supreme Court verdict, in order to keep the wheel of government of the state running.
“Regrettably, the staff of the Assembly refused to receive and acknowledge the letter.
“A courier company which was engaged to deliver the letter also returned it with a report that it was rejected at the Assembly Quarters where the members currently sit.
“Yet the narrative from the Rivers State House of Assembly is that Governor Fubara has refused to present the budget.
“Although it is tempting to ignore false narratives in the social media that Governor Fubara has refused to take steps to present the budget to the Assembly, we cannot ignore the press briefing by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Dr Enemi George alleging that the Governor is frustrating the implementation of the Supreme
Court’s judgment, particularly the directive requiring him to re-present the 2025 Appropriate Bill to the lawmakers.
“Following the refusal by the Assembly to receive and acknowledge the Governor’s letter, delivered by government officials and a courier company, the Rivers State Government took the initiative of publishing the letter in two national dailies – The Nation and The Guardian – on Friday the 14th of March, 2025.
“It would be uncharitable to claim that the Governor’s letter was published on social media and not formally delivered to the Assembly.”
He added, “We cannot produce an acknowledgment copy. We can however refer all parties to the substituted means of service in The Nation and The Guardian.
“The Rivers State Governor is acting in good faith notwithstanding that false narratives are being peddled by the same people frustrating compliance with the judgment of court.”
He further criticized the Assembly for proceeding on an indefinite recess despite the unresolved budget issue, warning of dire consequences for civil servants, retirees, and the general public.
“With the current actions of the House, civil servants, retirees, and the people of the state will face unimaginable economic hardships, as the government will be unable to pay salaries, pensions, and other emoluments, as well as fulfill other financial obligations at the end of the month. Both the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation have been ordered to seize revenue allocations to the state until the judgment is fully implemented,” Johnson stated.
On the latest accusations of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy, the commissioner said the executive arm was yet to receive any correspondence from the State Assembly.
He restated that Fubara has always been committed to peace and has demonstrated this by complying with a court ruling directing the transition of power from elected local government chairmen to Heads of Local Government Administrations.
