The Empire

Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, has lauded Pastor Martin Effiong’s dedication and commitment to the growth of Shelter of Redemption Christian Centre, Mbiabong Anyanya, Uyo. Rt. Hon. Bassey, who made this known on Sunday during the dedication of the church, expressed appreciation to God for the quick development of the Church and said he was delighted to be part of its success story. The Speaker congratulated the Man of God on the milestone so far recorded in Ministry and used the opportunity to thank the congregation for their fervent prayers, which, according to him, saw him through the electioneering period and his subsequent election as Speaker of the 7th Assembly. In another development, the Speaker, alongside the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obong Paul Ekpo, joined Akwa Ibom State First Lady, Deaconess Martha Udom Emmanuel, to celebrate the dedication of  little UyaiAbasi, daughter of Mr. Uwem Ukutt, an aide t

In a continuous strive to keep Akwa Ibom State clean, green and beautiful,  the Chairman of The Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency - Hon.  Prince Ikim on  29th  June, went on inspection to the proposed permanent dump site situated at Ntak Inyang by Nassarawa. Speaking with journalists Prince Ikim said the dump site at Uyo village road was a temporary dump site which will soon be turned to a 'transfer station' to feed the permanent dump site when work fully commences at the permanent site. Ikim intimated that with the permanent dump site which is about 11hecters the Agency will move from just collecting waste and dumping them to creating wealth and energy from waste , that incinerators will be built at the permanent dump site. The Chairman who also talked about the poor conditions of the road, said the road will be opened up to allow easy motorable access to the dump site, while also imploring the inhabitants of the community to try and

Political leaders must be capable of generating policy ideas through negotiation and communicating them through their elected officials". Honourable Onofiok Luke, the Member representing Etinan/Nsit Ibom/ Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency stated this when he delivered a paper on the topic "Strengthening Communication between Party Leadership and Legislative Caucuses" at a Benchmarking Workshop on Strengthening the Capacities of the Opposition in the Ugandan Parliament organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies(NILDS), National Assembly, Abuja. Hon. Luke, a member of the main opposition party in the Nigerian Federal House of Representatives, who was chosen by  NILDS to deliver the paper, stressed the need for effective communication among the leadership of political parties, their elected officials and legislative caucuses in the Parliament. He went further to call for uniformity in the goals and objectives of legislative caucuses

The centre can no longer hold in Nsit Atai Local Government Area as the council boss Miss. Emem Ibanga has taken her power tussle to another dimension by shutting down the Peoples Democratic Party Secretariat in the area for over two months now devoid of any show of remorse. According to PDP supporters in the area who pleaded anonymity to our reporter who visited the Party Secretariat to ascertain the claims, the council boss was confirmed to have put the Party Secretariat under lock and key for fear of being handed over a vote of  no confidence by the Party, having recognised the clear fact that she has disappointed her people.  According to an indigene of the area, Etim Uwem, said "the council boss has killed the very essence of democracy because the council under her watch is adjudged the worst as the Secretariat has turned to forest where animals live due to the overgrown bush seen everywhere". "Why would somebody with a sane mind lock up the entire

AKHA INAUGURATES 26 STANDING COMMITTEES The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has inaugurated 26 standing Committees. The Committees and their respective Chairmen are: 1. Committee on Petroleum  chaired by Hon. Frank Okon. 2. Committee on Rural Development and Public Utilities- Rt. Hon. Usoro Akpanusoh 3. Intergovenmental Committee- Hon. Ifiok Udo 4. Committee on Public Accounts- Hon. Charity Iddo 5. Committee on Local Government Rt. Hon. Mark Esset 6. Committee on Finance and Appropriations - Rt. Hon. Uduak Odudoh 7. Committee on Security Youth and Sports- Rt. Hon. Nse Essien 8. Committee on NDDC- Hon. Anietie Eka 9. Committee on Labour and Productivity- Rt. Hon. Idongesit Ntekpere 10. Committe on Agriculture-Hon. Asuquo Udo 11. Committee on Information-Rt. Hon. Aniefiok Dennis 12. Committee on Health- Hon. Udeme Ottong 13. Committee on Education-   Hon. Godwin Ekpo 14. Committee on Women Affairs-  Rt. Hon. Felicia Bassey 15. Committee on Lan

AKHA to partner Health Ministry to Improve Sexual, Reproductive Health in Akwa Ibom State Uwakmfon Dan The Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, has said the 7th Assembly will support the State Ministry of Health to enhance access to sexual and reproductive health services of adolescent girls and women in the State. Speaker Bassey made the pledge on Tuesday, when he received a delegation from the State Ministry of Health and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), who were at the Conference Hall of the Assembly Complex to intimate him about the Integrated Approach to Empowering Adolescent Girls and Women in the State. Speaking further, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey said the Akwa Ibom State legislature under his watch, will make laws that will enable the Ministry of Health to ensure improved access to sexual and reproductive health services in the State. "Our duty is legislation. In the sixth Assembly, we passed the Primary Healthcare Bill

Akwa Ibom State Governor Mr. Udom Emmanuel , today sent to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, the list of Commissioners and Special Advisers for clearance. The list has the following: Akan okon Ime Ekpo NSE Essien Uwemedimo Nwoko Monday Uko Linus Nkan Okpulupum Etteh Ephraim Inyaneyen Ekong Sampson Charles Udoh Orman Esin Iniobong Essien Dominic Ukpong Gloria Edet Udo Ekpenyong Prince Ukpong Uno Etim Rapheal Bassey Victor Bassey Special Advisers Sunny Ibuot Ekemini Umoh

By Aniekan Udofia The Member representing Etinan/ Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium  Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Onofiok Akpan Luke, has said that the task of nation building demands collaboration across party lines, political interests, religious and ethnic groups. In his goodwill message on Sunday at a special reception by the Lagos State Government in honour of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Rt. Hon. Luke reiterated his position on the need for collaboration for national development. Repeating his now familiar message on collaborative leadership, Luke said the hope of the nation lies in the leadership’s responsibility to collectively pursue the course of development without recourse to political differences. He noted that politics and regional interests must stop where the interest of the ordinary Nigerian surfaces. Luke described Rt Hon. Gbajabiamila as a man with the capacity to lead the 9th House of Representative

The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, has made a strong case for Nigerians to embrace entrepreneurship and learn the ideals of financial independence. Rt. Hon. Bassey disclosed this on Friday when he played host to the leadership of the College of Former Aides to Governor Udom Emmanuel (COFA), 2015 - 2019 in Uyo. The Speaker maintained that it was time for government to encourage entrepreneurship by ensuring that local businesses grow alongside multinationals to deepen development in Akwa Ibom, adding that “9% of the job will be outsourced to local firm. They must also be made to be part of the bidding process.” He said the 7th Assembly, under his leadership, will be proactive in its primary assignment and further called for domestication of the Local Content Law in the state to allow for multinationals to support Small and Medium Enterprises [SMEs] and the people through local patronage, employment and mentorship. Rt. Hon. Basse

To see to the smooth running of the Seventh Assembly, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey has set up the Selection and Welfare Committees. The Speaker who is the Chairman of the Selection Committee also listed Rt. Hon. Princess Felicia Bassey, Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Sir) Udo Kierian Akpan, House Leader, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Bassey, Chief Whip, Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Aniefiok Denis Akpan, Deputy House Leader and Rt. Hon. (Otuekong) Nse Essien, Deputy Chief Whip as members.  Other members include members representing Nsit Atai, IkotAbasi Eastern Obolo and Ikono. The Speaker also announced members of the Welfare Committee to include the Chief Whip, Mr. Emmanuel Ekpenyong as Chairman,  Rt. Hon. (Otuekong) Nse Essien, Deputy Chief Whip, Elder Aniekan Uko, Usoro Akpanusoh, Idongesit Ntekpere, Otobong Bob, Godwin Ekpo, Charity Ido, Okon Frank and Mfon Idung as members. The House was adjourned to 25th June

There was serious panic in The Apostolic Church Nigeria, Obio Imo Assembly today Sunday, 16 June, 2019 as police men on mufti stormed the church during service in the morning to arrest one of the members identified as Mr. Okon Bassey. The ugly incident which happened at about 9: 10 am and lasted for over two hours, caused fear as well as members running out of the church as the plain clothes police men entered the church premises with their guns to effect the arrest. It was gathered by THE INK that the police had trailed the man from Ntiedo Udosen Street to the church and immediately ambushed worshipers causing panic in the process. The heavily armed police men refused every appeals by the district pastor, Pastor N. O. Orok and even the elders. The police, after proper identification later arrested Mr. Okon Bassey and whisked him away from the church. Credits: Emmanuel Akpan

The Speaker of the Akwa Ibm State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey has pledged that the Seventh Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly will " endeavor to discharge its legislative duties and oversight functions with utmost compassion, diligent, honesty and integrity".  The Speaker in his letter of appreciation to his Constituents and the general public notes that he was humbled as well as honoured by their expression of confidence through support when he was elected as their representative and spokesperson   in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. "In fact, thank you is not enough to express my profound gratitude to you all for standing by me throughout the electioneering period" "Let me in a very special way appreciate our dynamic standard bearer of good governance, beacon of hope and the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for teaching us humility, patience, integrity, selflessness and forgiveness in the fac

By Edet Okpo It did not surprise any of her teeming supporters and loyalists that Rt. Hon Princess Felicia Bassey did not only secure victory at the 2019 elections to represent the people of Okobo State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for a second term but also emerged, for the second time, the Deputy Speaker of the 7th Assembly following the swearing-in of new Members and inauguration of the House yesterday. These rare feats will remain a recurrent subject of legislative excellence for a long time in our history. From official formalities at the House of Assembly, the jubilation cascaded into a jamboree at the Oti-Oron residence of the principal celebrant, Rt. Hon. Princess Felicia Bassey, to the fullest expression of people’s state of mind for her historic achievements and the greater expectations and future they see in her. Stakeholders, party Members at all level, women groups, socio-cultural organizations, political associates, students and youths shu

Senator Ahmed  Lawan has emerged the new Senate President defeating his main challenger and senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, after the counting of the ballot by the clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori. He polled 79 votes as against 28 scored by his closest rival. There was however an uproar from the supporters of Lawan after the clerk announced that the secret ballot system would be adopted for the election, stating that there was a court injunction which ordered that the open ballot should be used. The clerk in his response noted that he did not receive any injunction to the effect as he insisted that secret ballot system should be adopted as amended by the National Assembly rules of 2015. In a related development, Senator Omo Agege was also elected DeptySenat President defeating Ike Ekweremadu.

By Edet Okpo Amidst unending rain of testimonies and encomiums from constituents, in an emotion-laden atmosphere of deep appreciation and counter-appreciation between the benefactor and beneficiaries, the Deputy Speaker of Akwa Ibom State and Member who represented Okobo State State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Princess Felicia Bassey, bowed out from office in great honour after four years of impactful,  focused and people-oriented representation. She was amongst the proud State legislators in the last plenary and valedictory formalities as the 6th Assembly dissolved sine die on Thursday, June 6, 2019. But she bowed out to be re-ushered in for another four years of robust Legislative engagement and quality representation. Extrapolation from a general overview of group and individual performance of Members of the 6th Assembly in the past four years shows that  Rt. Hon. Princess  Felicia Bassey holds a place of envy and pride because she stood out in the trip

The newly sworn-in Head of Akwa Ibom State Civil Service, Elder Effiong Essien, has assumed duty. This follows the exchange of baton between the outgoing Head of Civil Service, Mrs. Ekerebong Akpan, and the incoming, today. The emotion-laden handing over ceremony took place  at the old Executive Council Chambers, Governor's Office,Uyo. In her speech, the outgoing Head of Service, Mrs. Ekerebong Akpan, thanked God for his grace and guidance through out her years in the service to the peak of her career as Permanent Secretary and her appointment as Head of Civil Service. She thanked the state Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel for giving her the opportunity to serve the state and appreciated the governor's support which aided her success. Mrs. Akpan also appreciated all the Permanent Secretaries/ Heads of Extra Ministerial Departments, Labour Leaders and the entire workers for their support. She congratulated her successor and assured him that with his track record in the se

The Management of  Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) wishes to  swiftly respond to what could best be  described as baseless, preposterous, malignant and unconscionable misrepresentation,  a hurriedly  fabricated news report in the social media authored by one ill-advised intruder who goes by the name of Innocent Orok, masquerading as Roam reporter  .  It is therefore  pertinent  to  authoritatively refute the unfortunate trash by an opportunist lost in the ocean of imaginations, without necessarily promoting his sheer crass. Although it is not altogether surprising, it is however worrisome that some old heads still find it hard to accept the current changes or feign blindness to the reality that things have changed in today’s Maritime Academy of Nigeria  substantially through the instrumentality of the present focused and purpose-inclined administration led by Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua as well as the concerted efforts of relevant stakeholders. Apparently, one of the poss