The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee overseeing Rivers State has questioned the state government’s proposal to allocate N24 billion for closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems in its 2025 budget.
Committee Chairman Julius Ihonbvere issued the query on Monday, giving Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Eke Ibas (retd.), 48 hours to provide a detailed breakdown of the major items in the state’s 2025 Appropriation Bill.
Ihonbvere also demanded submission of the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which should precede budget presentation according to the 1999 Constitution.
The committee raised additional concerns about N30 billion allocated for gunboat purchases and N23 billion budgeted for contingency reserves.
The House Majority Leader requested details of allocations to Local Government Councils over the past three months to assess debt financing, transfers to local governments, and fund management practices.
The committee also questioned the state’s funding of federal projects without federal government agreements, including refund arrangements.
“We need additional details for those allocations. We request the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) details for the last three months to understand your financial flows and assess them against budget deficits,” Ihonbvere said.
He emphasized that all requested documents must be submitted within 48 hours, stating the committee aims to promote accountability and protect citizens’ interests throughout the state.
Ihonbvere praised President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in resolving tensions between the suspended Executive and Legislature in Rivers State.
Representing the Sole Administrator, Senior Special Assistant on Strategy and Policy Andrew Nweke explained that the N30 billion for gunboats would support security agencies in combating waterway insecurity.
Nweke said the N24 billion CCTV allocation for the Rivers State Government House was necessary for modern security surveillance, assuring lawmakers that all required documents would be provided.
