AKS GOVT TO PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURSHIP – AKAN OKON



Finance Comm; Akan Okon with Mrs Eno Offiong at the finance sector retreat



State government says it would continue to promote entrepreneurship in the state in view of its value as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth and Devepment. The Finance Commissioner. Akan Okon who stated this while interacting with members of the Petty business men in Uyo said Small,and Medium Enterprises(SME)being the engine room of the nations' economy ,government would strive to stimulate an enabling business environment for enterprises to flourish for our teaming unemployed youths to be engaged. He said government would soon commence the disbursement of the Central Bank of Nigeria's SME loan earlier launched in the State to beneficiaries,and called on those not captured in this first phase to be hopeful of subsequent phases of the revolving loan scheme. The Commissioner charged the petty business men to be good ambassadors of the state by enlightening the people at the grassroots of government programs for them to be well informed and key into those activities. On the recent supreme court ruling upholding the electoral victory of Governor Udom Emmanuel, Mr Okon who described it as THE HAND OF THE SUPREME GOD, said it was an indication that the almighty God is the key to all our needs and can fight our battles with assured victory. He used the medium to thank Akwa Ibom people for standing firm on the divine mandate, and called for all hands to be on deck for the development of Akwa Ibom state. Earlier, the National President of the Petty Businessmen, Mr.Samuel Archibong said the group is an amalgamation of all forms of micro, and small business men and women in Akwa Ibom whose objective is to be self-employed even in the midst of job scarcity. While applauding Governor Emmanuel for his tremendous development efforts within eight months in office, especially the loans to small scale entrepreneurs which petty business people are also beneficiaries ,Mr Archibong solicited the extension of the loan to more petty traders,and pledged their readiness to create awareness on the lofty initiatives of Udom administration. The occasion also featured the presentation of award of excellence to Mr Akan Okon.

TOMPOLO DECLRARES WAR ON EFCC – Move to quash the warrant of arrest issued against him – Tompolo’s lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa said his team of solicitors have been told to accelerate the process of hearing the appeal – Asks the court to transfer his case to another judge

Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, a former militant leader has headed to the Court of Appeal in a bid to quash the warrant of arrest issued against him, Premium Times reports. Tompolo, who was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after refusing to show up before a Federal High Court in Lagos to answer the charges preferred against him by the anti-graft agency, is also asking the court to transfer his case to another judge. These requests were contained in a statement issued on February 21 by Tompolo’s lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa, who disclosed that his team of solicitors have been told to accelerate the process of hearing the appeal as quick as possible. “He is a law abiding citizen who is only demanding that the Federal Government should show compliance with the rule of law and due process, in the filing and prosecution of any crime that may be alleged against him. “The relevant law enforcement agencies are being notified with the details of the appeal, so that they may be well cautioned from taking undue advantage of the criminal charge to wreck havoc upon Gbaramatu kingdom or to harass the family, relatives, friends and well wishers ‎of Tompolo,” Adegboruwa said. The former militant leader is challenging the federal court ruling which dismissed his application to set aside the warrant for his arrest. ‎‎ The statement read:“Tompolo also complained that the learned trial court should have ascertained that the EFCC duly complied with the order of the court for substituted service‎, by posting the charge at the correct address as contained in the order of the court. “Tompolo stated further that the application leading to the issuance of the warrant of arrest was not competently placed before the court, as the counsel that signed and filed it on behalf of the EFCC failed to affix his seal thereto, as required by law.” Mr Ekpemupolo’s counsels contended that the summons and criminal charges preferred against their client were not pasted at the property on No.1 Chief Agbamu Close, DDPA Extension, Warri, Delta state. Tompolo in the notice of appeal filed by the law firms of Mr. Adegboruwa and Tayo Oyetibo, posited that the court erred in law by declining to set aside the arrest warrant as there was no evidence to show he had been notified of the summons and the criminal charges leveled against him. Meanwhile, joined as respondents in the appeal comprise the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Patrick Akpobolokemi, Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, Odimiri Electrical Ltd and Kime Engozu. Others include Boloboere Property and Estate Ltd, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Ltd, Gregory Mbonu, and Captain Warredi Enisuoh. A Federal High court on January 14, issued a warrant for the arrest of Tompolo after he failed twice to show at the court to stand trial for his alleged criminal charges. The Federal High Court judge, Ibrhaim Buba, who is handling the case in a reaction to Tompolo’s disrespect for the law, renewed the arrest warrant on February 8, a development that propelled the EFCC to declare the former militant leaders wanted. Tompolo and the former director general of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi are accused of looting billions of naira from the agency.

Abuse Of Power: Anti Corruption Group Ask NJC To Investigate Justice Yunusa

An anti-corruption coalition, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), has urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate Justice M. N. Yunusa of the Federal High Court, Lagos division, for abuse of powers. In the petition made available to newsmen and signed by the coalition's chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, the CSNAC bemoaned the questionable manner in which the judge was granting orders of perpetual injunction to politically exposed persons and other accused persons from being arrested or prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). According to the coalition, the NJC should investigate the various arbitrary injunctions granted by Justice Yunusa, adding that the rulings of the High Court judge mark off suspicions since the Supreme Court has held in a plethora of cases that the grant of perpetual injunctions against law enforcement agencies is a violation of constitutional provisions. Citing a plethora of cases where Justice Yunusa granted the petitioners perpetual injunctions preventing the EFCC from doing his statutory duties, the coalition said the order from the judge will undoubtedly serve as a leeway for unscrupulous and corrupt individuals to escape justice. Notable among the cases cited by the CSNAC in its petition is Senator Stella Odua v. AG Federation, EFCC, ICPC and IGP with suit no. FHC/L/CS/1342/15; Dr. Martins Oluwafemi Thomas v. EFCC in suit no. FHC/L/CS/1445/15, among others. The petition read, "The grant of the orders of mandatory and perpetual injunctions by Justice Yunusa against the EFCC is a grave departure from the established principles in the aforementioned cases, as laid down by the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal which are binding on the Federal High Court, being a lower court. "Honourable Justice Yunusa, by the granting of these orders, has stripped the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions of its constitutional powers as a law enforcement agency, as well its powers under the enabling law, the Economic and Financial Crimes (Establishment) Act, LFN 2004, a Federal Legislation. It is also a gross abuse of his powers as a judicial officer. "These decisions, based on his Lordship’s refusal to abide by judicial precedents laid down by the apex court, will undoubtedly serve as a leeway for unscrupulous and corrupt individuals, who will stop at nothing to truncate their arrest, investigation and prosecution by the appropriate law enforcement agencies, to render our criminal law ineffective, as well as allowing corruption fester in the society." In the light of the above, "CSNAC therefore by this petition requesting that the council carries out its constitutional role by immediately summoning Honorable Justice M. N. Yunusa on this matter and thereby ensuring that sanity is restored in the exercise of powers by judicial officers."

AK Assembly Pass 2016 Appropriation Bill

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has passed into law the 2016 appropriation bill with a total budget size of N423billion as against 426billion proposed by the state executive.  The budget was passed on today, February 18, 2016, during plenary after an exhaustive consideration of the report submitted to the House by the Committee on Appropriation and Finance. A total of N94.963billion is approved by the lawmakers for recurrent expenditure while capital expenditure stands at N243 billion. Briefing assembly correspondents in his office at the end of plenary, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Rt. Hon. Barr. Ime Okon explained that the House had to consider and approve an overall decrease in the 2016 estimates for capital expenditure by two billion. The Ibiono Ibom member said: “The total budget outlay is N423billion, N3billion less than what was presented by the governor. What we have passed is made up of 94.963billion for recurrent expenditure, N243billion for capital expenditure and N85.036billion for consolidated revenue fund charges. We’ve made savings of N2billion from capital expenditure which has been augmented to recurrent expenditure to increase it by two billion as against what was presented by the governor. Then we have had a reduction of three billion naira from consolidated revenue fund charges. We have ended up reducing the budget as presented by the governor by three billion naira.” The House  had earlier dissolved into a committee of the whole for the consideration of the report of the Appropriation and Finance committee after which the bill was read a third time passed into law. Motion for the adoption of the report was moved by the House Leader, Rt. Hon. Udo Kieran Akpan and seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Felicica Bassey. Lawmakers who spoke on the budget expressed happiness at the successful passage of the budget, saying they were looking forward to the betterment of the well-being of the people of the state as the House of Assembly has now empowered the executive to go ahead with the implementation of programmes outlined for the 2016 fiscal year. Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke said in his remarks: "Looking at the 2016 budget, one cannot but commend the governor and other members of the state executive council for the expertise which they brought to bear in framing the budget. The sectoral allocations are also worth commending. The huge priority given to the social sector in this budget is an indication of Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel's sincere commitment to fighting on the side of the common man. It is heartwarming to note that government intends to spend a huge sum to meet various needs across the social and economic sectors. It is also commendable that agriculture, education, investments and commerce are on the priority list in this year's budget. The Speaker also noted that "the 2016 appropriation law is entirely in tandem with the Sustainable Development Goals of government. I believe this is why the budget is justifiably christened the budget of sustainable development. We must therefore commend His Excellency the governor for fashioning the budget to conform with sustainable development agenda.  The Speaker said further that with the passage of the budget proposal into law, it was now time for lawmakers to move to the next step of carrying out their oversight function with regards to the implementation of the proposals. He said: “Whereas we have finished with our legislative function regarding the 2016 budget, we must move very rapidly to the next stage of oversighting. The aim is to ensure proper implementation as God would bless our state with the resources. Our various committees provide us the platforms on which we must look into the activities of various ministries, agencies, and parastatals with the aim of ensuring proper implementation of allocations. I therefore urge the executive to embrace this purely mutually beneficial oversight roles of ours. They should not see it as a probe process or a confrontation. Rather, doors should at all times be opened to us within the fiscal year to help make our oversighting efforts a success.” He also urged Akwa Ibom people to pray for the leadership of the state at all levels. “The industrialization plans and other lofty goals of the current administration cannot be actualized in an environment of hostilities, pernicious propaganda, blackmail, and hate. As a people, we must at all times pray for our leaders to succeed as the Bible instructs in 1st Timothy 2:1 - 4. As we commence this fiscal year, we must collectively channel our efforts to state-building activities and continue to pray for our economic fortunes to improve. We in the 6th assembly promise to remain committed to making laws that will improve the lives of our people and create the opportunities for our youths, women, and students to build capacities in every areas of human endeavour.”

Akwa Ibom 2016 Appropriation Bill Passed into Law

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has passed into law the 2016 appropriation bill with a total budget size of N423billion as against 426billion proposed by the state executive.  The budget was passed on today, February 18, 2016, during plenary after an exhaustive consideration of the report submitted to the House by the Committee on Appropriation and Finance. A total of N94.963billion is approved by the lawmakers for recurrent expenditure while capital expenditure stands at N243 billion. Briefing assembly correspondents in his office at the end of plenary, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Rt. Hon. Barr. Ime Okon explained that the House had to consider and approve an overall decrease in the 2016 estimates for capital expenditure by two billion. The Ibiono Ibom member said: “The total budget outlay is N423billion, N3billion less than what was presented by the governor. What we have passed is made up of 94.963billion for recurrent expenditure, N243billion for capital expenditure and N85.036billion for consolidated revenue fund charges. We’ve made savings of N2billion from capital expenditure which has been augmented to recurrent expenditure to increase it by two billion as against what was presented by the governor. Then we have had a reduction of three billion naira from consolidated revenue fund charges. We have ended up reducing the budget as presented by the governor by three billion naira.” The House  had earlier dissolved into a committee of the whole for the consideration of the report of the Appropriation and Finance committee after which the bill was read a third time passed into law. Motion for the adoption of the report was moved by the House Leader, Rt. Hon. Udo Kieran Akpan and seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Felicica Bassey. Lawmakers who spoke on the budget expressed happiness at the successful passage of the budget, saying they were looking forward to the betterment of the well-being of the people of the state as the House of Assembly has now empowered the executive to go ahead with the implementation of programmes outlined for the 2016 fiscal year. Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke said in his remarks: "Looking at the 2016 budget, one cannot but commend the governor and other members of the state executive council for the expertise which they brought to bear in framing the budget. The sectoral allocations are also worth commending. The huge priority given to the social sector in this budget is an indication of Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel's sincere commitment to fighting on the side of the common man. It is heartwarming to note that government intends to spend a huge sum to meet various needs across the social and economic sectors. It is also commendable that agriculture, education, investments and commerce are on the priority list in this year's budget. The Speaker also noted that "the 2016 appropriation law is entirely in tandem with the Sustainable Development Goals of government. I believe this is why the budget is justifiably christened the budget of sustainable development. We must therefore commend His Excellency the governor for fashioning the budget to conform with sustainable development agenda.  The Speaker said further that with the passage of the budget proposal into law, it was now time for lawmakers to move to the next step of carrying out their oversight function with regards to the implementation of the proposals. He said: “Whereas we have finished with our legislative function regarding the 2016 budget, we must move very rapidly to the next stage of oversighting. The aim is to ensure proper implementation as God would bless our state with the resources. Our various committees provide us the platforms on which we must look into the activities of various ministries, agencies, and parastatals with the aim of ensuring proper implementation of allocations. I therefore urge the executive to embrace this purely mutually beneficial oversight roles of ours. They should not see it as a probe process or a confrontation. Rather, doors should at all times be opened to us within the fiscal year to help make our oversighting efforts a success.” He also urged Akwa Ibom people to pray for the leadership of the state at all levels. “The industrialization plans and other lofty goals of the current administration cannot be actualized in an environment of hostilities, pernicious propaganda, blackmail, and hate. As a people, we must at all times pray for our leaders to succeed as the Bible instructs in 1st Timothy 2:1 - 4. As we commence this fiscal year, we must collectively channel our efforts to state-building activities and continue to pray for our economic fortunes to improve. We in the 6th assembly promise to remain committed to making laws that will improve the lives of our people and create the opportunities for our youths, women, and students to build capacities in every areas of human endeavour.”

FACE THE PEOPLE - EKPENYONG TELLS UDOM

Former Deputy Governor of AkwaIbom State, Engr. Chris Ekpenyong, says Governor Udom Emmanuel should make the people the pivot of his policy.   Speaking to reporters at the venue of the Thanksgiving Service to mark Governor Emmanuel’s Supreme Court victory, the former deputy governor said it was only the people that will make him succeed as Governor.   “The people are a very important part of why God sustained Governor Udom’s divine mandate. He should, therefore face the people and make them the pivot of his administration’s policy”, he said.   “He should know that there is no industrialization without the people. He therefore needs to make sure the people arecarried along in his industrialization drive”.   Ekpenyong said the Governor has started well by training youths but ‘he should go a step further by ensuring that the people are ready in other wises for the industrial revolution of his government.’   “One of the reasons Tinapa can be considered a failure is that the local economy was not readyand strong enough to feed it. We must make sure our local economy is strong enough to feed the industries coming. Our people should be top suppliers of every local content in the firms. We should have a deliberate policy to produce the top managers in these firms”. Ekpenyong said.  The former Deputy Governor said indigenous enterpreneurs should be assisted to lift their businesses to standard so that they can reap from the revolution.   ‘I heard he is trying to create entrepreneurs amongst youths but he should know that there have always been youths in business. All they need is Assistance which the government must give’   Describing Governor Udom’s win a divine one, he called on indigenes of the state across every divide to support the Governor and wished him success in his tenure in office.

Revenue Administration Bill Passes Second Reading

Revenue Administration Bill 2015 Passes Second Reading

A bill seeking to make provisions for effective collection and administration of revenue due to Akwa Ibom state government and local government councils in the state has passed through a second reading in the House of Assembly.

Titled “A bill for a law to make provision for the administration and collection of Revenue due to the government of Akwa Ibom state and to establish the relevant administrative structures and other matters connected there with”, the executive bill when passed into law will boost the revenue profile of the state.

Deliberating on the bill during plenary today, House members who were unanimous in their support for the bill, argued that it has become necessary for the state to look inwards by devicing means to improve on its internally generated revenue collection especially as oil revenues are dwindling.

Leading debate on the bill, the House Leader, Rt. Hon. Udo Kierian Akpan, explained that the bill is not seeking to scrap the state Internal Revenue Service, but that it is intended to inject more professional hands into the revenue management system while encouraging efficiency.

“The bill is principally intended to set up a framework to ensure the proper administration of internal revenue of Akwa Ibom state. This bill is not seeking to scrap the Internal Revenue Service, but it is seeking to ensure that there is a proper and effective administration of our revenue and the job is to be carried out by professionals”.

The lawmaker hinted that the bill also seeks to give the revenue collection and administration body in the state a self-accounting status, explained that staff would be exposed to more professional training and re-training. He noted that following the current state of affairs in the nation's economy, it was pertinent that Akwa Ibom state should not be depending solely on oil revenue from the federal government, hence the need to boost the IGR of the state through the passage of the bill. 

Also contributing, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Assembly and member representing ONNA, Hon. Otuekong Nse Essien, pointed out that an increase in revenue to the state would translate to an increase in the tempo of development in the state, and urged his colleagues to support the bill.

The lawmaker said: “This bill seeks to plug some loopholes in the revenue collection system. It also seeks to establish a 13-man managerial structure, comprising of professionals. Mr. Speaker, the government desires to look inwards into its revenue drive to fill the gap arising from the current economic situation."

On his part, the member representing Essien Udim, Hon. Nse Ntuen, argued on the need for the House to closely monitor the activities of those that will be serving on the board of the revenue agency to ensure that the good intentions of government are achieved. 

Others spoke in favour of the revenue administration bill including, the Chief Whip, Hon. Emmanuel Ekpenyong, Rt. Hon. Gabriel Toby, Hon. Mrs. Mfon Ekong and Hon. Mark Esset. They were unanimous in their support for the speedy passage of the bill by the House. They noted that the sustainable development agenda of the present administration can only succeed with adequate funding, and commended the idea behind the bill which they described as timely. The lawmakers noted that since the governor emerged, a lot of revenue has been recovered.

Reacting, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke, while commending members for their support, committed the bill to the House committee on Appropriation and Finance for indepth study and further legislative actions. 

The committee is given one week to report back to the House.