The Rivers State House of Assembly has rejected a N100,000 Christmas bonus paid into the personal bank accounts of its members, a payment, it was gathered, was approved by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the lawmakers described the transfer as unsolicited and irregular, stressing that any public spending must comply with constitutional provisions and receive legislative approval.
The development comes amid celebrations by civil servants in the state following the governor’s approval of a N100,000 Christmas bonus for public workers, a gesture he has sustained for the second consecutive year.
However, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Enemi George, who signed the statement, said the lawmakers immediately resolved to return the funds after discovering that the transfers did not follow due process.
The statement, titled ‘Return of Unsolicited and Unapproved One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000) Transferred to the Personal Accounts of Honourable Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara’, was obtained on Tuesday.
George accused the governor of persistently withdrawing funds from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Account without legislative approval since assuming office in 2023, despite repeated cautions from the House, a Supreme Court judgment, and constitutional provisions on separation of powers.
He also alleged that certain state government officials were working with the governor to breach the Constitution and state laws, describing such conduct as illegal.
Reaffirming the Assembly’s position, George said the lawmakers would continue to discharge their constitutional responsibilities without compromise.
The statement partly read, “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 Siminalayi 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.
“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 Account of Rivers State without legislative approval, despite repeated warnings from the House, the judgment of the Supreme Court, and in defiance of the Constitution and the principles of separation of powers.
“Therefore, with the leave of Mr Speaker and the entire House, I use 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.
“We assure the good people of Rivers State that we will not relent in the performance of our constitutional duties.”
The House had earlier adjourned plenary sittings to January 26, 2026.
As of the time of this report, Governor Fubara has not presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the Assembly for consideration, nor submitted the names of commissioner-nominees requested by lawmakers.
Since his return from suspension following the lifting of the emergency rule in the state, the governor has been running the government with eight commissioners who were unaffected by the Supreme Court ruling recognising Martin Amaewhule as the legitimate Speaker of the House.
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