Rivers Assembly Rejects Fubara’s ₦100,000 Christmas Bonus, Returns Funds

Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have rejected and returned a N100,000 Christmas bonus that was credited to their personal bank accounts on the instructions of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, saying the payment lacked legislative backing and violated established financial procedures.

In a statement on Tuesday signed by Hon. Enemi Alabo George, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, the lawmakers said they received alerts on December 30, 2025, showing N100,000 had been paid into their accounts.

“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,” the statement read.

The legislators described the transfer as unsolicited and “unapproved,” saying it failed to adhere to due process and constitutional requirements for public spending.

Following this discovery, they took immediate action to return the funds to the account of the Rivers State Government, underscoring their commitment to upholding fiscal accountability.

“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,” the lawmakers said.

The assembly emphasised that all public expenditures must receive proper legislative approval, noting that civil servants and other public office holders who received similar Christmas bonuses had done so under established procedures, unlike the lawmakers.

George said the House, “as an institution established by law and guided strictly by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, … maintains that all public expenditures must follow due process, including legislative approval.”

The statement also accused the governor of repeatedly drawing funds from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Account without legislative sanction since assuming office in 2023, despite warnings from the House and judgments from the Supreme Court.

Lawmakers expressed concern that such actions, if unchecked, could undermine constitutional principles and the separation of powers.

“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, judgment of the Supreme Court and in defiance of the Constitution and principles of separation of powers,” the statement added.

The rejection of the gift reflects ongoing tensions between the Rivers State executive and legislature, with lawmakers reaffirming their determination to enforce due legislative processes and ensure that financial decisions comply with constitutional standards.