The Nigerian Senate has pledged to rigorously oversee the disbursement and execution of the N1.48 trillion budget presented by the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), in line with its oversight duties under the current emergency rule in the state. During a budget defence session at the National Assembly on Thursday, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Chairman of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Emergency Governance in Rivers State, assured citizens that the legislature would ensure every naira in the 2025 Appropriation Bill translates into real, measurable outcomes. “This goes beyond scrutinizing numbers,” Bamidele stated. “We are accountable to the Nigerian people to guarantee that every allocated fund is utilized efficiently—project by project, sector by sector—so that the people of Rivers State truly benefit, especially during this period of emergency governance.” He emphasized that the committee's work would not end with the defence session, adding that continuous monitoring and performance evaluations would be conducted in the months ahead to promote transparency, ensure timely implementation, and maximize value for public funds. “We’ll be assessing not just the disbursements but also timelines, delivery benchmarks, and outcomes. The goal is simple: ensure that the 2025 budget translates into better roads, improved healthcare, quality education, security, and livelihoods for the people of Rivers State,” he said. The Senate Leader also used the session to clarify misconceptions surrounding the federal government’s emergency rule in Rivers State. He stated that the temporary measure, declared by President Bola Tinubu, is not a substitute for democratic governance but a constitutional intervention aimed at restoring stability. “For the record, emergency rule is not a replacement for democracy,” Bamidele said. “It is a lawful and constitutionally backed response to restore peace and order when governance is under threat, as stipulated in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.”