TUESDAY March 18, 2025 |TheNewsDESK
The Rivers Government has urged the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) to reconsider its stance and prioritise the welfare of the people to ensure peace in the state.
Mr Joe Johnson, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, made the appeal at a news conference in Port Harcourt on Monday, March 17, 2025.
He stressed that a change of course by the lawmakers would prevent unimaginable suffering and crises for the state and its people.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the RSHA has earlier issued a gross misconduct notice against Gov. Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Ngozi Odu, setting the stage for their possible impeachment from office.
Johnson condemned the Assembly’s refusal to allow the governor the opportunity to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill, despite a Supreme Court directive.
He criticised claims by the lawmakers that Fubara had not followed due process in notifying them about the budget presentation.
“Gov. Fubara has demonstrated his preparedness and willingness to re-present the 2025 budget and fully implement all aspects of the controversial Supreme Court ruling.
“His commitment to this process is solely for the sake of peace.
“It is unfortunate that the lawmakers are misrepresenting him, portraying him as unwilling to comply with the Supreme Court’s judgement,” he stated.
Johnson appealed to the Assembly members not to squander the opportunity to steer the state away from impending crises.
“If this opportunity to pull the state from the precipice fails, the people and residents, without exception, will suffer avoidable calamities.
“The state could face economic, social, and political upheavals, that might sink us deeper into unimaginable crises,” he warned.
The commissioner also lamented that the Supreme Court’s directive for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to withhold the state’s revenue allocations had severely hampered the government’s ability to function.
He stated that as a result, the state government would be unable to pay civil servants, retirees, and other workers their salaries, pensions, and emoluments.
Johnson further noted that the government’s other financial obligations would remain unfulfilled until the judgement was fully implemented.
“The collateral damage caused by the actions of the legislative arm in Rivers State will be so severe.
“Withholding revenues due to the state will paralyse government operations,” he emphasised.
