Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has spoken about how Governor Siminalayi Fubara is managing Rivers State’s 2024 budget dispute
In a video recently shared by TVC from 1:41:00, Wike said that President Tinubu had advised Fubara to re-present his budget through the proper legislative process, but Fubara declined. He said the courts ruled against Fubara’s initial budget presentation to a faction of only four lawmakers, declaring it unconstitutional.
According to Wike, the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers House of Assembly sought judicial intervention, emphasizing that, by law, Governor Fubara could not continue to access funds from the state’s consolidated revenue without an approved budget.
Wike said the court ruled that Fubara must halt all state expenditures until the budget is formally re-presented and approved by the entire assembly. Wike highlighted that both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal backed this decision, stressing the importance of following due process in managing state finances. Wike added that what the Amaewhule-led faction of the House of Assembly want is for Fubara to do the right thing.
In Wike’s words: “President Tinubu appealed to you to go and resend your budget. You said no, you won’t do that. You said you won’t do what Mr President said, no problem. Now court gave judgement and court of appeal assented to the judgment”.