Rivers Lawmakers In Hot Seat Over ₦350M – Fubara’s Aide Speaks Out

Darlington Orji, Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor, has claimed that members of the Rivers State House of Assembly each received ₦350 million for constituency projects, contradicting some lawmakers’ claims that certain payments made to them were unapproved.

Orji made the remarks on Friday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where he discussed the state’s budget process and the ongoing tension between the executive and the legislature.

Responding to reports that some lawmakers had rejected a ₦100,000 end-of-year payment to civil servants and legislators in December, Orji described their stance as inconsistent.

He explained that while civil servants were given ₦100,000 as an appreciation gesture, the same amount was extended to lawmakers, some of whom refused it, citing its absence from the approved budget.

“You know this is a respected platform, and I won’t speak on things I’m unsure of,” Orji said. “The Governor did not approve the presentation, so it was not submitted. But in December, ₦100,000 was given to civil servants and also offered to House members. Some rejected it because it was not appropriated.

“Now, you rejected ₦100,000 for lack of appropriation, but what about the ₦350 million given to each lawmaker for constituency projects? Why didn’t they reject that, since it also wasn’t in the budget?”