By RismadarVoice Media
December 31, 2025
Rivers State House of Assembly has rejected a N100,000 Christmas bonus credited to the bank accounts of its members, allegedly approved by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the House described the payment as unsolicited, unapproved, emphasizing that all public expenditures must follow due process, including legislative approval.
Civil servants in the state have been celebrating a similar N100,000 bonus, a policy Governor Fubara has maintained for the past two years.
However, the Assembly insisted that the transfers to lawmakers did not comply with constitutional procedures, prompting immediate steps to return the funds.
The statement, signed by Enemi George, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, said:
“Today, the 30th day of December 2025, honourable members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly received bank credit alerts of the sum of one hundred thousand naira (N100,000) each.
The said unsolicited, unapproved amount was transferred on the instructions of the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, to the personal accounts of members.
Upon discovery of these unsolicited, unapproved transfers, honourable members of the House took immediate steps to formally return the said funds to the account of the Rivers State Government.”
George stressed that the House, as a constitutionally established institution, maintains strict adherence to due process for all state expenditures.
The statement further noted that since assuming office in 2023, Governor Fubara had consistently drawn from the Consolidated Revenue Account without legislative approval, despite repeated warnings from the House, the judgment of the Supreme Court, and in defiance of the Constitution and the principles of separation of powers.
“We are aware of some staff of the Rivers State Government allegedly conspiring with the Governor and others to contravene the Constitution and the laws of Rivers State.
The House describes such actions as unlawful,” George added.
The House had adjourned plenary to January 26, 2026, and as of now, Governor Fubara has not presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill for consideration and approval, nor has he submitted the names of commissioner-nominees requested by the lawmakers.
Since his return from suspension following the lifting of the emergency rule, Fubara has been operating with eight commissioners who were not affected by the Supreme Court, ruling recognizing Martin Amaewhule as the authentic Speaker of the House.
Statement Title
The official statement, obtained by our correspondent, was titled:
“Return of Unsolicited, Unapproved One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000) Transferred to the Personal Accounts of Honourable Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
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