The Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) has rejected the recently approved N100,000 bonus paid to civil servants and pensioners, describing the payment as “unsolicited and unapproved.”
In a statement signed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Enemi George, the lawmakers said the bonus payment did not receive legislative authorization and therefore violates constitutional provisions governing public spending.
According to the Assembly, since Governor Siminalayi Fubara assumed office in 2023, funds have allegedly been withdrawn from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund without approval from the legislature, an action the House said undermines due process and the principle of separation of powers.
“The House rejects the payment on the grounds that public expenditures in Rivers State have not followed due process,” the statement said, adding that such actions amount to a breach of constitutional requirements.
As part of its response, the RSHA announced that its members have begun taking immediate steps to return the funds to the state treasury.
The Assembly also issued a warning to civil servants and government officials involved in the alleged infractions, urging them to desist from actions that contravene the law. Lawmakers reaffirmed their commitment to carrying out their constitutional responsibilities despite the ongoing tensions.
The rejection comes amid celebrations by many civil servants and pensioners who welcomed the N100,000 bonus, which the state government had described as a general welfare measure for workers.
However, the RSHA’s stance underscores the deepening political rift between the executive and legislative arms of the Rivers State Government. The Assembly has repeatedly accused the governor of engaging in unapproved spending and failing to present the 2025 budget to lawmakers for consideration and approval.
