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The Senate announced that the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, along with key state officials, will defend the state’s 2025 budget before the Joint National Assembly Ad-hoc Committee on Emergency Rule in Rivers State. This was revealed by the Senate Leader and Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, during the committee’s first meeting in Abuja. The committee was created by Senate President Godswill Akpabio after President Bola Tinubu declared emergency rule in Rivers State on March 18, 2025. Other lawmakers present at the meeting included Senator Tahir Munguno, Senator Peter Nwebonyi, Senator Adamu Aliero, Senator Sani Musa, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, and Senator Oluranti Adebule. Senator Opeyemi Bamidele explained that both chambers of the National Assembly have agreed to hold a joint budget session for the proposal, which was submitted by President Bola Tinubu on behalf of the Sole Administrator. The budget defense will also involve the Accountant-General of Rivers State and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance. Senator Opeyemi Bamidele emphasized that the National Assembly is dedicated to maintaining financial transparency and ensuring that the people of Rivers State are not disadvantaged or shortchanged during this emergency period. He assured the public that democratic governance and the rule of law will remain functional, and that the committee has finalized its work plan to guarantee that governance does not suffer in the state.