Tag: Ibas

Human rights activist and member of the Rivers Elders and Leadership Forum, Ms. Ankio Briggs, has demanded  accountability from the former Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, over the management of financial resources  during his six-month stewardship.

Speaking in a televised interview, Ms. Briggs criticised the silence over Ibas’  management while he held sway under emergency rule.

She insisted that Rivers people deserve to know how their funds were utilised.

“He was here for six months. And within that six months, he spent our money. That’s just the truth. And I see no reason why people should wonder why we call it our money. It’s our money. It’s not Lagos State money. It’s not Katsina State money. It is the money of Rivers State,” she said.

Ms. Briggs said that Ibas’ tenure cannot be swept aside without a proper audit, warning that Governor Siminalayi Fubara could put himself in a politically vulnerable position  should he fail  to demand accountability.

“If we don’t have accountability, the governor of Rivers State runs the risk of putting himself in a vulnerable position where tomorrow a group of people, one person, can get up and say Ibas didn’t meet any money in the bank account of Rivers State. And we will not be able to dispute it, because we don’t know any difference,” she cautioned.

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The activist also took aim at the political class over the peace deal that restored Fubara after months of turbulence.

She said  the terms remain shrouded in secrecy and  likened the process to “shaving someone’s head behind their back.”

“It’s not acceptable when politicians make these agreements over our heads. We are the people that have paid the greatest price in all of these things. And to not be aware of the decisions which will affect us, it becomes very difficult to flow with the situation,” she said.

Briggs dismissed suggestions that Fubara should be limited to a single term in office, describing such an arrangement as unfair to the riverine communities after what she called “24 unbroken years of upland dominance.”

On President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention in the crisis, the activist differed from governor who chose to be ‘eternally grateful.’

“Definitely not. I think even the president himself will be aware of the fact that not everybody in Rivers State is going to be eternally grateful to him… especially the PDP political party, they brought us to where we are,” she maintained.

She urged the people of Rivers State to remain vigilant, stressing that “the future of the state lies in the hands of its people, not in backroom deals by politicians.”

…launches new tax codes

The outgoing Sole Administrator, Rivers State, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), has reflected on his actions in the state during the six-month emergency rule, saying history will be kind to him and his team.

Ibas spoke at the Government House Banquet Hall in Port Harcourt while officially launching the adoption of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and a suite of new revenue codes to herald a new era of transparency, efficiency, and economic growth for the state.

Ibas specifically said, “Let me use this opportunity to thank all who have supported us throughout the six months of the emergency rule. The reforms we implemented were not always easy, and indeed, in the process, we made new friends and new enemies.

“But history will judge that every action was taken for the general good of Rivers State. Though my time here is short, the legacy we leave behind is that of courage, discipline, and reforms. I humbly plead with you to consolidate and sustain these gains for the continuous progress of our dear state.

“Whenever I step aside, posterity will not merely reminisce about me just as one who served as a sole administrator but as a proud son of the Niger Delta who will always desire the best for this great land”.

Launching the IPSAS and a suite of new revenue codes, Ibas said that the reforms were necessary to address systemic weaknesses in the state’s revenue architecture.

He said, “For too long, our revenue system has suffered from weak or imprecise computation, creating loopholes that encouraged leakages, inconsistencies, and outright losses. This reform ushers in transparency, accountability, and efficiency. Every transaction will be traceable, every payment verifiable, and every process auditable in real time.”

Read Also: Ibas lists key lessons from Rivers’ six-month emergency rule

He noted that the dual implementation of IPSAS and the modernized revenue codes would fundamentally transform the state’s economy.

“The IPSAS framework will ensure the state’s financial records are comparable, credible, and globally acceptable, significantly boosting confidence among investors and international development partners”, he said.

He added that the new revenue codes would empower the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RSIRS) to capture previously overlooked revenue streams, deepen the tax net, and substantially enhance Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

He said, “For taxpayers, it means convenience. For the government, it means more reliable revenue inflows. And for our people, it means resources will be better harnessed to provide infrastructure and services that improve daily life”.

He also highlighted the strategic advantage the reforms provide, positioning Rivers to more easily access international funding and grants from institutions like the World Bank and the United Nations by demonstrating a proven capacity for transparent and accountable resource management.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service, Sir Israel Egbunefu, described the adoption as a transformative step that “globalises the fiscal identity of Rivers State.”

He said, “With IPSAS, Rivers State is no longer reporting revenue in isolation. It is speaking a language understood by the World Bank, the United Nations, and global financial institutions,” Egbunefu stated. “This will unlock billions of naira in revenue that were previously lost or underreported and positions us as a credible destination for investment and international credit.”

 Israel praised Ibas for his leadership and courage in seeing through the complex reform within a short period, calling on all stakeholders to consolidate the gains for the lasting benefit of the state.

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), has announced that the mandate given to him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been “sufficiently achieved” with the restoration of democratic governance at the grassroots level.

Ibas made the declaration at Government House, Port Harcourt, in a statement signed by the Senior Special Adviser, Media, Rivers State Government, Hector Igbikiowubo, while receiving the report of the recently concluded local government elections from the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

He noted that the peaceful conduct of the polls and the swearing-in of elected chairmen and councillors across all 23 local government areas directly fulfilled the presidential directive issued to him on March 18, 2025.

He said, “Mr. President’s mandate to me was clear: to stabilize the state, create an enabling environment for the re-establishment of its institutions, and return Rivers State back to full democratic governance.

“With the successful conduct and swearing-in of local government chairmen and their councils, I believe we have decisively achieved the mandate that we were given.”

He commended RSIEC for organising what he described as a fair, credible, and transparent electoral process, which has been widely praised within and beyond the state.

He said, “For once, an election was conducted where nobody was harassed, where people went out freely to express themselves and to select whom they wanted as their leaders. This is a testament to the peaceful and enabling environment we have collectively fostered”.

The administrator gave the assurance that his administration would meticulously review the RSIEC report and issue an official government white paper in due course. 

Read Also: Ibas approves rehabilitation of Rivers secretariat, 106 housing units for workers

He extended his appreciation to his team, security agencies, and state officials for their collaborative effort and synergy, noting that “this is what it takes to build nations.”

Earlier, while presenting the detailed report, the Chairman of RSIEC, Dr. Mike Odey, described the election as a “historic achievement” for the state and the country. 

He revealed that the document provided a full account of the entire process, from the initial notice of election to stakeholder engagements, polling, collation of results, and the final announcement of winners.

“The report highlights our modest achievements, our challenges, and provides key recommendations that will strengthen future elections in Rivers State,” Dr. Odey said

He emphasized that the Commission operated strictly in accordance with the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law of 2018, as amended, and credited the election’s success to robust collaboration with political parties, civil society organizations, and security agencies.

Odey also expressed the commission’s gratitude to the Administrator for providing “adequate and sufficient” funding, which enabled an unprecedented feat in Nigerian electoral management.

“In the history of election management in Nigeria, be it national or sub-national, no institution has ever organized, coordinated, conducted, and supervised a complete electoral process within a period of 30 days. With all modesty, I have no regrets in stating this fact for the record,” he said.

The Rivers State Government has approved the the rehabilitation and modernisation of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex.

The Administrator, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) made the announcement at the 2025 Civil Service Week Gala and Awards Ceremony held at Government House, Port Harcourt.

The administrator also approved the provision of 106 housing units for civil servants.

A statement signed by the Senior Special Adviser, Media, Rivers State Government, however did not disclose the cost implications of the project.

The starement said the landmark initiative was designed to transform the secretariat into a modern, efficient, and conducive work environment, directly supporting the civil servants who formed the backbone of the state’s governance.

Ibas paid glowing tribute to retired heads of service and permanent secretaries, describing them as the bedrock of the state’s administration.

He said that the awards ceremony was a symbol of deep appreciation for decades of sacrifice, resilience, and commitment.

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He said: “These interventions are designed to not only recognize your service, but also to improve your welfare in tangible and lasting ways. We must build an administration that is efficient, effective, and truly citizen-centric.”

He urged serving officers to draw inspiration from their predecessors and to strive to make a meaningful impact in the lives of citizens.

Ibas emphasized the importance of embracing innovation, technology, and continuous training to build a civil service equipped for the future.

The Acting Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Inyingi Brown, in her welcome address, described the civil service as the “engine room of government” and expressed profound gratitude to the Administrator for his unwavering support and commitment to its modernization.

She said: “A society that does not honor its heroes is not worthy of emulation,” lauding the retirees as torchbearers of discipline and loyalty.

She pledged to build on their legacy through reforms and innovation, projecting that the Rivers State Civil Service would become a model of efficiency and transparency by 2030.

Speaking on behalf of the retirees, Sir Promise Njowhor, President of the Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the historic recognition.

He said: “For once, since the creation of the state, we are being honored. Our morale has been lifted.”

He pledged the association’s continuous support for government programs, describing the body of experienced retirees as a resource available to contribute to state development.

Highpoint of the event was the presentation of the Most Civil Service Friendly Award to the Administrator by the Forum of Permanent Secretaries for his sustained promotion of welfare and development of the State Civil Service.