Sira Numbara
As the political tussle in Rivers State continues to rage on, the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule, has passed a motion to shut down the Rivers State Consolidated Revenue Account, till Gov. Siminalayi Fubara presents his budget before them.
The Assembly made the move during plenary on Monday, following a seven-day ultimatum the lawmakers gave the governor to present his budget before the House.
Recall that the Amaewhule-led Assembly had on July, 8 given Governor Fubara, a seven-day deadline to resubmit the 2024 budget and also accused him of breaching the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
This order was issued during the first session of the pro-Wike House of Assembly after an Appeal Court ruling seemingly ordered them back to office propelling yet another twist in the impasse between the lawmakers and the governor.
At the plenary, the Leader of the House, Major Jack, raised the motion informing the House about the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum given to the governor to present the 2024 budget before the House.
After deliberation, the House voted to shut down the Rivers State Consolidated Revenue Account, thus preventing Fubara’s administration from spending any money on behalf of the state.
It will be recalled that Governor Fubara had previously presented the budget to the faction led by the former speaker Edison Ehies who is currently his Chief of Staff.
Ehie and the pro-Fubara lawmakers passed the budget estimates, which the governor then signed into law.