Jake Epelle, CEO of TAF Africa, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for submitting the 2025 Rivers State budget to the National Assembly.
Tinubu presented the ₦1.481 trillion budget on Thursday after the Rivers State House of Assembly was suspended. The budget aims to improve key sectors in the state. But on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Epelle said this is the first time a sitting President has presented a state budget in Nigeria’s democratic history.
He called the move “executive overreach” and said it has no legal or democratic basis. He explained that at first, the plan was for a sole administrator to present the budget, but public concerns about its legality made them change course.
Epelle worries that a person not elected by the people will now spend taxpayers’ money.
“The President has made history, but on the wrong side,” he said.
“This is worrying because a sitting President should not be presenting a state budget. This happened because the democratic process in Rivers State has broken down under emergency rule.
“Originally, the sole administrator was supposed to present the budget. But when people questioned if that was legal, they changed plans.
“Anyone who supports this should think about democracy. A state should be run by someone elected by the people.
“It is sad that an unelected person will control public funds. The people of Rivers State deserve better.”
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