iDeemlawfulRivers Lawmakers Reject Christmas BonusThe Rivers State House of Assembly has turned down the sum of N100,000 paid into the personal bank accounts of each lawmaker as a Christmas bonus, allegedly approved by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the House described the payment as unsolicited, stressing that all public spending must comply with due process, including prior legislative approval.
Recall that civil servants across the state have been celebrating following the governor’s approval of a N100,000 Christmas bonus across board, a gesture he has sustained for the past two years.
However, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Enemi George, who signed the statement, said the transfers failed to follow due process, prompting lawmakers to immediately initiate steps to return the funds.
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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 by our correspondent on Tuesday.
George alleged that since assuming office in 2023, the governor had persistently withdrawn funds from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Account without legislative approval, despite repeated cautions from the House, the judgment of the Supreme Court and in violation of the Constitution and the doctrine of separation of powers.
He added that the House was aware of certain state government staff allegedly working with the governor to breach constitutional provisions and state laws, describing such actions as unlawful.
George assured residents of the state that the Assembly would remain steadfast in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.
The statement read in part, “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.”
Recall that the House had adjourned plenary to January 26, 2026.
Governor Fubara is yet to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the House for deliberation and approval.
He has also not forwarded the list of commissioner-nominees as requested by the lawmakers.
Since his return from suspension following the lifting of the emergency rule imposed on the state, Fubara has been governing with eight commissioners who were not affected by the Supreme Court judgment recognising Martin Amaewhule as the authentic Speaker of the House.