Amid circulating reports suggesting a halt in monthly allocations to Rivers State, the Federal Government has confirmed that disbursements remain uninterrupted. Mr. Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, addressed the claims, dismissing them as inaccurate and reaffirming the state’s eligibility for allocations.
Mokwa clarified that the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) is actively disbursing October funds to states and local governments, with Rivers State included due to a subsisting appeal and stay of execution order.
This assurance comes against the backdrop of a contentious legal battle over the state’s allocation. The Court of Appeal in Abuja is currently reviewing five separate appeals arising from rulings by the Federal High Court in Abuja. Among these is an appeal against an October 30 ruling by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, which temporarily barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing allocations to Rivers State.
Justice Abdulmalik’s decision had deemed the receipt and use of monthly allocations by Governor Siminalayi Fubara unconstitutional, citing a budget passed by only four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The judgment also restrained financial institutions, including Zenith Bank and Access Bank, from facilitating access to the state’s funds, while prohibiting withdrawals from state accounts until a valid budget is passed.
However, the Federal Government has reiterated its stance that Rivers State remains a beneficiary of monthly disbursements while the appeal process is ongoing. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in the case, with a ruling expected at a later date.
This development underscores the interplay of legal and political tensions in Rivers State, while the Federal Government seeks to ensure continuity of funds until the judiciary resolves the matter. For now, Rivers State’s allocations remain unaffected, pending the conclusion of the appellate court’s deliberations.
