Deborah Akinyosoye
Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly said they have returned the N100,000 Christmas bonus given to them by the governor of the state, Sir Siminialayi Fubara.
The Assembly, which described the N100,000 cash gift as unsolicited and unapproved, said the governor has continued to spend Rivers’ money without minding the law.
It would be recalled that the governor had released the sum of N100,000 to be paid to civil servants and some public office holders in the state for the celebration of the festive season.
But, the state lawmakers in a statement on Tuesday night, signed by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Hon. Enemi Alabo George, rejected the money.
George 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 and unapproved amount was transferred on the instructions of the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalaye Fubara GSSRS, to the personal accounts of members.
“Upon discovery of these unsolicited and 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 noted that, as an institution that gives attention to the law, they would not take part in anything that falls short of the law.
He said that since 2023, Fubara has continued to withdraw from the Consolidated Revenue Accounts of the state without legislative approval despite repeated warnings from the House.
He said: “As an institution established by law and guided strictly by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Rivers State House of Assembly maintains that all public expenditures must follow due process, including legislative approval.
“The Governor, since assumption of office in 2023, has consistently drawn from the consolidated revenue accounts of Rivers State without legislative approval, despite repeated warnings from the House, judgment of the Supreme Court and in defiance of the Constitution and principles of separation of powers.
“Therefore, with the leave of Mr Speaker and the entire House, I cease this medium to once again draw the attention of all staff of the Rivers State Government who connive with the Governor and others to contravene the Constitution and laws of Rivers State to the fact that we have become aware of their unlawful conduct.”