Issued in Abuja at 4:00 pm on Tuesday, 8th April 2025
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room) expresses deep concern over the reported plan by Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.), the Sole Administrator appointed by the President to oversee Rivers State, to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill (proposed state budget).
In a previous statement issued on 19th March 2025, Situation Room denounced the state of emergency in Rivers State as an unconstitutional exercise of executive power. Despite calls for the National Assembly to reject this action and fulfil its constitutional duty to act as a check on executive overreach, the legislature endorsed the declaration—effectively enabling what Situation Room views as a troubling erosion of democratic norms. This has prompted concerned Nigerians to take to the streets in protest.
Regarding the budget presentation, Section 121 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria confers the power to initiate the appropriation process solely on the elected Governor of a State. With the suspension of both the Governor and the State House of Assembly in Rivers State, it is constitutionally untenable for any valid Appropriation Law to be enacted. Moreover, Section 305 of the Constitution does not provide for the appointment of a Sole Administrator to replace an elected Governor. Any attempt by the Sole Administrator to assume such powers sets a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democracy.
Situation Room is also deeply concerned by the recent announcement by the Sole Administrator that previously withheld local government allocations have now been released. These funds had been withheld due to the failure of the State to conduct constitutionally required local government elections. Their release, under the current unconstitutional arrangement, constitutes a blatant disregard for judicial authority, particularly the Supreme Court’s July 2024 ruling prohibiting the disbursement of federal allocations to unelected local government councils.
These ongoing violations of constitutional provisions and judicial orders have heightened tensions and unrest, as evidenced by the widespread protests occurring in Rivers State and across the country. Situation Room strongly condemns the recent attacks on citizens peacefully protesting against the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and related developments.
Disturbingly, on Monday, 7th April 2025, officers of the Nigeria Police Force fired tear gas at peaceful demonstrators in both Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Situation Room strongly condemns this attack on citizens exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association as enshrined in Sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution. We are deeply troubled by the escalating pattern of government impunity, which threatens democratic stability and risks further unrest.
We call on all security agencies to respect and protect the rights of protesters, rather than intimidate or harm them. Situation Room also urges the Federal Government to take immediate steps to restore democratic governance in Rivers State, including the reinstatement of the elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and State House of Assembly.
Finally, we call on all Nigerians, civil society organisations, and the media to stand in defence of the Constitution and to safeguard our democracy. Democracy cannot thrive under a climate of impunity.
Signed
Yunusa Zakara Ya’u
Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
Franklin Oloniju
Co-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
Mimidoo Achakpa
Co-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
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The Situation Room is made up of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working in support of credible elections and governance in Nigeria numbering more than seventy. The Steering Committee is made up of: Action Aid Nigeria, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), CLEEN Foundation, Emma Ezeazu Centre for Good Governance and Accountability (formerly Alliance for Credible Elections, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Kimpact Development Initiative, Democratic Action Group (DAG), Women’s Rights to Education Programme, Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD), DIG Ebonyi, Life And Peace Development Organization (LAPDO), Rural Youth Initiative, Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI), Centre for Health and Development in Africa (CHEDA) and Josemaria Escriva Foundation.
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