Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have rejected the ₦100,000 Christmas bonus sent to them by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The lawmakers said the money was paid without approval and did not follow due process.

The Assembly said the cash gift was unsolicited. It added that the funds were returned to the state government account shortly after the alerts were received.

The lawmakers accused the governor of spending public funds without legislative backing.

In a statement released on Tuesday night, the House said the payments were made directly into the personal accounts of members.

The statement was signed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Hon. Enemi Alabo George.

George said: “Today, the 30th day of December 2025, Honourable members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly received bank credit alerts of the sum of one hundred thousand naira (N100,000) each. The said unsolicited and unapproved amount was transferred on the instructions of the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalaye Fubara GSSRS, to the personal accounts of members.

“Upon discovery of these unsolicited and unapproved transfers, Honourable Members of the House took immediate steps to formally return the said funds to the account of the Rivers State Government.”

He said the House would not be part of any action that violates the law. He stressed that the Assembly is guided by the Constitution and due process in all financial matters.

George said the governor had earlier approved a ₦100,000 festive bonus for civil servants and some public office holders in the state. He noted that lawmakers were not consulted before the payment was extended to them.

He also accused the governor of repeatedly withdrawing funds from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Account without approval since assuming office in 2023.

According to him, the House had warned against such actions on several occasions.

He said: “As an institution established by law and guided strictly by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Rivers State House of Assembly maintains that all public expenditures must follow due process, including legislative approval.

“The Governor, since assumption of office in 2023, has consistently drawn from the consolidated revenue accounts of Rivers State without legislative approval, despite repeated warnings from the House, judgment of the Supreme Court and in defiance of the Constitution and principles of separation of powers.

“Therefore, with the leave of Mr Speaker and the entire House, I cease this medium to once again draw the attention of all staff of the Rivers State Government who connive with the Governor and others to contravene the Constitution and laws of Rivers State to the fact that we have become aware of their unlawful conduct.”

The lawmakers warned public officers to avoid actions that could breach the law. They said accountability and transparency must guide all government spending.