Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have returned the N100,000 Christmas bonus recently credited to their accounts by Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara
The Assembly described the cash gift as unsolicited and unapproved, saying it reflected the governor’s continued disregard for the law in managing state funds.
The bonus, which was part of a festive payout announced by the governor for civil servants and some public office holders, was rejected by the lawmakers. In a statement on Tuesday night, signed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Hon. Enemi Alabo George, the Assembly explained that the funds were promptly returned to the state treasury.
George said: “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, 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.”
He emphasized that as a law-abiding institution, the Assembly would not partake in any transactions that violate legal procedures. George also highlighted that since 2023, Governor Fubara has repeatedly withdrawn from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Accounts without legislative approval, despite warnings from the House and Supreme Court rulings.
George added: “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 accounts of Rivers State without legislative approval, despite repeated warnings from the House, judgment of the Supreme Court and in defiance of the Constitution and principles of separation of powers. Therefore, with the leave of Mr Speaker and the entire House, I cease 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.”
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