“This unprecedented move is very worrisome because this is the first time a sitting President is presenting the budget of a state.”
CHANNELS
The Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s presentation of the ₦1.481 trillion Rivers State 2025 budget to the National Assembly, calling it “executive overreach.”
Appearing on The Morning Brief on Channels Television, Epelle said the move marked the first time in Nigeria’s democratic history that a sitting President presented a state budget.
“The President has made history, but this time on the wrong side of history,” he said.
He criticised the decision, which follows the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly amid ongoing political tensions.
“Initially, they were going to push the so-called sole administrator to do this,” Epelle revealed, noting public scrutiny forced a change in strategy.
He questioned the legality of an unelected official overseeing state funds, adding, “An individual not elected by the people is going to spend the people’s taxpayers’ money.”
Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers on March 18, 2025.