A financial expert, Kenneth Okara, has expressed serious concerns over the lack of transparency surrounding the recently approved ₦1.485 trillion budget for the 2025 fiscal year in Rivers State.
Speaking with our reporter in Port Harcourt, Mr. Okara, a business analyst, questioned the absence of a publicly released breakdown of the budget—an important document that outlines sectoral allocations and spending priorities.
“An ambitious budget without transparency breeds suspicion,” he said. “Unlike the 2024 budget under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, which had a detailed public breakdown, the 2025 budget has yet to provide such clarity. This raises red flags about fiscal transparency in a democratic setting, especially at the subnational level.”
Okara emphasized that physical transparency is not negotiable in a democracy. He noted that citizens have a fundamental right to know how public funds are allocated and spent, warning that the absence of a detailed budget document undermines accountability, hinders proper oversight by stakeholders, and weakens citizen participation in governance.
He added: “The lack of a detailed 2025 budget breakdown at this stage is troubling. It leaves room for mismanagement and weakens the confidence of the people in government spending processes.”
Beyond transparency, the analyst also raised concerns about the priorities outlined in the budget. He urged the Rivers State government to focus more on people-centered development rather than solely on grand infrastructure projects.
“Infrastructure is important, no doubt,” Okara said, “but it must not overshadow critical sectors like education, healthcare, and youth empowerment. These sectors directly influence human capital development, reduce unemployment, and build a skilled workforce—especially in a state with a high youth population and significant unemployment.”
He also highlighted the need for stronger environmental protection measures, noting Rivers State’s vulnerability to flooding and oil-related ecological challenges.
“The 2025 budget should reflect strategic planning that balances infrastructure with social development. Education, healthcare, youth skill acquisition, and environmental protection must receive adequate attention if the state is to achieve sustainable growth,” he concluded.
As stakeholders and civil society await the release of a full budget breakdown, questions continue to grow over whether the state government will maintain the level of transparency previously demonstrated.
