••• as Assembly receives State Police Act from N’ASS

A bill seeking to amend some sections of the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) law, and a bill to establish the Akwa Ibom State Civil Society Organisations Registry to provide for harmonisation of registrations and related matters have passed first reading at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.

Additionally, two other bills passed the first reading during plenary on Tuesday, September 29th, at the Assembly Complex along Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo. They are: a bill to provide for the elimination of tuberculosis, protect the rights of persons affected by tuberculosis, prohibit tuberculosis-related discrimination, and address related matters; and a bill to regulate tenancy, the recovery of premises by landlords, and the operations of real estate agents in Akwa Ibom State.

Three of the bills are sponsored by Rt. Hon. Kufre Abasi Edidem, Deputy Speaker; Hon. Moses Essien (Ibiono Ibom State constituency); and Hon. Uwemedimo Asuquo (Uyo State constituency), respectively. The fourth bill is an executive bill forwarded by Governor Umo Eno for consideration and passage.

After Nsikak-Abasi Orok, Clerk of the Assembly, read the bills, they were adopted for consideration through a motion moved by the Deputy Chief Whip, Prince Sampson Idiong (Oruk Anam), and seconded by Prince Ukpong Akpabio of Essien Udim State Constituency.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Udeme Otong, upon receiving the bills, referred them to the Chairman of the House Committee on Business, Rules, Ethics and Privileges for rescheduling.

Also during Tuesday’s plenary, the State Police Establishment Act from the National Assembly was received for consideration and referred to the Chairman of the House Committee on Inter-Governmental, Political, and Special Matters for further legislative work.

Meanwhile, the House has adjourned plenary to reconvene on Tuesday, October6th,2026, at12 noon.

Press Unit,
Office of the Speaker,
Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly ( AKHA).

Otobong Nsekpong

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Senator Ekong Sampson Ph.D, has reaffirmed his commitment to building the capacity of his constituents as their representative.

Senator Ekong Sampson who represents Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District (Eket) also restated his determination to add value to the lives of his constituents through education.

He was speaking at the March Congress of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council, held on Tuesday 24th March 2026 at Godswill Akpabio Press Centre, Uyo.

According to the lawmaker, who emphasized on the need for more journalists to be in leadership positions, he gave out a hundred million naira (100m) as grant to students in his Senatorial District.

“The 100 million naira I gave as grant to over 500 students did not come from constituency funds but his personal funds because I know the value of education and also believes in it.

“This is what you get when a journalist is in leadership position. I am totally committed to training of more journalists inorder to add value.

“There is need for us to address value. The more we go for value the safer we are. Create a trajectory for yourself and drive on that trajectory”

Senator Ekong Sampson who is seeking re-election also added his voice to the need for an experienced legislator saying the business of legislation needs experience.

He commended the governor for showing courage, transparency and a matrix where a man’s word should be his bond stressing that, what the governor said has strengthened power sharing dynamics in state.

The Congress which was presided over by the Chairman of the State Council, Comrade Nsibiet John, after listening to his superlative scorecard in the red Chambers of the National Assembly which has also touched on journalists in the area of training, passed a vote of confidence on Distinguished Senator Ekong Sampson.

Congress also appreciated His Excellency, the Distinguished Senate President, for appointing Senator Ekong Sampson as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, describing the appointment as a well-deserved recognition of his competence, legislative experience, and proven capacity to deliver on national assignments.

The March 2026 Congress of NUJ also featured the celebration of March babies while Senator Ekong Sampson was accompanied to the congress by the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals, Rt. Hon. Goodluck Gaza.

Anietie Ekong

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has commended the Senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District, Osita Ngwu for his investment in the education of the next generation of Nigerian children.

Akpabio made acclaim on Friday in Enugu as the Special Guest of Honour at the Osita Ngwu scholarship and bursary awards where the Enugu Senator disbursed over N250 million in scholarship to deserving scholars from Enugu West Senatorial District.

According to Senator Akpabio, the Enugu Senator has transformed the future of the youths of Enugu State through massive investment in scholarship and bursary awards. He said such empowerment was an investment in hope for the next generation.

“We cannot quantify in monetary value what Senator Osita is doing today by investing in the future of these children because when you give children education you have empowered them to achieve their potentials in life and that child can go to any place in the world.

“Senator Osita is a giver, not because he is a Senator. He is a giver not because he has so much money. He is a giver because he believes very strongly that no child should be left behind to wallow in illiteracy and ignorance. And that is why he has through personal sacrifice invested in the education of his constituents and other Enugu children.

“Building the future of these children is an uncommon project. Bringing out children who are performing so well in various universities to empower them, training children who will become good citizens of Nigeria is commendable.

“Senator Osita, I’m very proud of you. You don’t have a budget to do this. But you decided to do this through personal sacrifice and savings from your salary And I understand that you have been doing this this in the past 30 years. I can only say congratulations to you,” Akpabio said.

In the same vein, the Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah who was represented by his Deputy, Barrister Ifeanyi Ossai also heaped praises on Senator Ngwu for his patriotism in investing in the youths of Enugu State.

In his remarks, Senator Ngwu recounted how the scholarship scheme started. “I couldn’t help but remember where this journey began. Years ago, as a student, I watched brilliant young people slowly lose confidence – not because they lacked intelligence, but because opportunity came too late and preparation came too weakly. I saw dreams fade quietly, not from failure, but from absence of support.

“So I began free lessons. No cameras. No announcements. Just a few students, a shared hope, and the belief that one guided mind could change an entire future. I did not know then that those small lessons were the first words of a vision being written — a vision that others would one day carry forward.

“Today, those humble beginnings have grown into Enugu West Academy, with learning centres across our communities and thousands of young people studying every day – proof that when opportunity meets preparation, destinies change.

“This is not just an event. It is a statement that hard work will be seen, effort will be rewarded, and no child’s dream should be limited by circumstance. To every student preparing for examinations: keep going. The late nights, the sacrifices, the discipline – they matter. Your story is still being written,” he said.