Situation Room Condemns Proposed Budget Presentation by Rivers State Administrator, Slams Attack on Peaceful Protesters.
By Raymond Enoch
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room) has voiced strong concerns over the reported plan by Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.), the Sole Administrator appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to oversee Rivers State, to present the state’s 2025 Appropriation Bill. This follows earlier condemnation of the unconstitutional state of emergency in Rivers, which the Situation Room believes erodes democratic norms.
In a statement issued on 8th April, Situation Room expressed alarm over the Sole Administrator’s attempt to present a state budget, noting that only an elected Governor has the constitutional authority to initiate the appropriation process. The Situation Room further emphasized that under Section 121 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, the suspension of the Governor and the State House of Assembly renders the proposed budget presentation constitutionally invalid.
The civil society group had previously condemned the suspension of Rivers State’s elected officials, and its members now fear that such actions are setting a dangerous precedent for democratic governance in Nigeria. Section 305 of the Constitution does not support the appointment of a Sole Administrator in place of an elected Governor, raising legal and constitutional concerns about the implications of such a move.
Adding to the growing controversy, the Situation Room also criticized the Sole Administrator’s recent announcement regarding the release of withheld local government allocations. These funds had been withheld due to the failure of Rivers State to conduct constitutionally mandated local government elections. The move, according to the Situation Room, disregards judicial authority, particularly the Supreme Court’s ruling in July 2024 prohibiting the disbursement of federal allocations to unelected local government councils.
These issues have sparked widespread protests in Rivers State and other parts of Nigeria, with citizens voicing their opposition to the ongoing state of emergency. The Situation Room condemned the violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrators, particularly an incident on Monday, 7th April 2025, when police officers fired tear gas at protesters in both Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
In its statement, the Situation Room called on all security agencies to respect the rights of citizens to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Constitution. The group strongly criticized the escalation of government impunity, which it argues threatens the stability of Nigeria’s democracy and could fuel further unrest.
The civil society coalition urged the Federal Government to take immediate action to restore democratic governance in Rivers State, calling for the reinstatement of the elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and State House of Assembly. It also urged Nigerians, civil society organizations, and the media to defend the Constitution and safeguard democratic principles.
“Democracy cannot thrive under a climate of impunity,” said the statement, underscoring the importance of protecting democratic rights for the future of Nigeria’s governance.
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room is a coalition of over seventy civil society organizations advocating for credible elections and democratic governance in Nigeria.
