EMEMOBONG UPS THE ANTE
…Trains Staff At ASCON, Badagry

The current boom in the training of staff of Ministry of Information and Strategy under the watch of Comrade Ini Ememobong has taken an upward dimension, with the training of Information Officers at the prestigious Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, ASCON, Topo, Badagry.

Excited at the recent development, Information Officers have continued to pour encomium on the State Information helmsman, Comrade Ini Ememobong for bringing ASCON training to them, which hitherto was an exclusive preserve of Administrative Officers in the State government employ.

Commenting on the latest training of five Information Officers on “Effective Succession Planning in Management and Administration”, the Information Officer with the Civil Service Commission, Mrs. Ime Udokpan, concoured that, hitherto, training at ASCON was exclusively targeted at Administrative Officers selected by the office of the Head of Civil Service to the envy of other cadre of government employees.

She therefore expressed deep happiness at the turn of events and thanked, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong for strategic push of Information Officers to update their skills and knowledge at the college. 

While thanking the State Government and in particular the management of Ministry of Information and Strategy for the training sponsorship, one of the participants,  an Assistant Director of Information and Zonal Director in-charge of Eket zone of the Ministry, Mr. Uwem Ben, described Comrade Ini Ememobong as a valuable asset to the Ministry, the Information sector and indeed, the entire people of Akwa Ibom State. 

Mr Uwem Ben recounted that the training programme which featured lectures on relevant areas of Succession Planning in government and private organizations, also offered the participants, the opportunity to see the rich cultural heritage of Badagry and its significance in the history of Nigeria.

He added that Information Officers have never had it so good, especially in the areas of training and re-training in various fields, which Comrade Ini Ememobong has exposed them to since his assumption of office as the Commissioner for Information and Strategy.

While receiving the ASCON Trainee Ambassadors at his Emmanuel’s Court Shelter Afrique residence, the Information Commissioner said, more batches of Information Officers will be sent on training at ASCON depending on availability of resources and congratulated the first batch of Trainees for the successful completion of the week-long programme.

Ememobong said, the training was part of measures towards keying into the human capacity development-drive of the Akwa Ibom State Government, for improved staff performance adding that, the training of Civil Servants will continue to be accorded priority by government.

It could be recalled that, under the watch of Comrade Ini Ememobong, staff of the Ministry of Information and Strategy have undergone various specialised trainings in Sign and Chinese language as well as professional and Leadership trainings within and outside the Country including the multi-faced human capacity building training at Dubai in the United Arab Emirate, UAE.

At ASCON, the Akwa Ibom State team exhibited the rich cultural heritage of the people as well as the humongous development strides of the Governor Udom Emmanuel-led government to the management of the institution, through the publications of the Ministry- ” Explore Akwa Ibom” and “Wetin Udom don do”.

Amongst the participants at the week-long training included: an Assistant Director of Information and Zonal Director of Uyo Zone of the Ministry, Inibeghe Etuk,  Information Officer, Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Nsikan Essien and Information Officer, Office of the State Accountant-General, Mrs. Daye-Abasi Godsien.

FIRS: NATIONWIDE MONITORING ON TAX COMPLIANCE COMMENCES JULY

Visits to include MDAs, NGOs, other corporate bodies…

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has stated that it would embark on a nationwide Value Added Tax (VAT) and Withholding Tax (WHT) compliance exercise from July, 2022.

This information is contained in a public notice announcing the compliance monitoring exercise, and signed by the FIRS Executive Chairman, Muhammad Nami.

The exercise is coming on the heels of an earlier notice by the Service to commence the enforcement and recovery of unremitted tax deductions owed the Federation by some States and Local Governments.

The VAT and Withholding Tax Compliance Monitoring exercise will involve teams of FIRS officers visiting selected taxpayers and taxable persons to review their VAT and Withholding Tax records.

“The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) shall embark on a nationwide VAT and WHT compliance monitoring exercise with effect from July 1, 2022,” the notice reads.

“As a result, teams of officers from the Service shall visit selected taxpayers, taxable persons (including companies, NGOs or MDAs) to review their VAT and WHT records.”

In the notice, Mr. Muhammad Nami also highlighted that the exercise will cover 2016 to 2020 accounting years for taxable persons whose records have been audited by the Service up to 2015 accounting year.

He however noted that for taxpayers whose records have not been audited by the Service up to 2015, the exercise will be extended to include the prior years that have not been tax audited.

The Service also called on all taxable persons and tax agents to immediately remit deductions of VAT and Withholding Tax they have made on its behalf.

“All taxable persons or tax agents who have made deductions of VAT or WHT on behalf of the Service are required to immediately remit all such deductions to the FIRS within two weeks of this publication.”

The notice also stated that those who would be visited during the monitoring exercise will be notified and informed of the required documents for review beforehand.

Johannes Oluwatobi Wojuola
Special Assistant to the Executive Chairman, FIRS
(Media & Communication)
June 10, 2022

N6trn tax collection: MPAN lauds FIRS, top 20 tax compliance companies

The Multimedia Publishers Association of Nigeria (MPAN), has commended the performance of the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS).

Gambo Jagindi, National Chairman of MPAN, gave the commendation in a statement on Friday, in Abuja.

Jagindi said the FIRS, under the leadership of Muhammad Nami, the Executive Chaiman, had exceeded expectations by crossing the N6 trillion threshold in 2021 for the first time in Nigeria.

MPAN also commended President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Assembly, the Federal Ministry of Finance, and the 20 top performing tax compliance companies, for backing the FIRS to achieve this great feet

”We urge all tax payers to support the FIRS in its drive towards improving the fortunes of Nigeria for development and economic growth,” Jagindi said.

He noted that the growth of any nation was dependent on its tax payment and collection, and so it was imperative to develop the sector.

The FIRS had in a statement celebrated 20 top tax paying companies for helping it cross the N6 trillion threshold in 2021.

It said that in spite of the
global economic conditions imposed by the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, the companies still managed to fulfill their obligations.

”Of particular importance is the contribution of our much esteemed taxpayers; the support of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, the active support of our supervisory ministry, as well as many others,” the FIRS said in the statement.

Aluta News reports that MPAN is the umbrella body of more than 150 multimedia publishers.

FIRS To COMMENCE RECOVERY Of UNREMITTED TAX DEDUCTIONS BY STATES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has stated that it will commence the process of enforcement and recovery of unremitted tax deductions owed by some States and Local Governments in Nigeria.

This decision is contained in a Public Notice, signed by its Executive Chairman, Muhammad Nami, where the tax authority noted that most States and Local Governments have failed to remit to the Service Withholding Tax (WHT) and Value Added Tax (VAT) deductions from payments made to contractors and service providers by them as required by law.

The Notice, highlighting relevant portions of the Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) and the Value Added Tax Act (VATA), stated that Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, as well as Parastatals and other establishments were mandated by law to deduct certain taxes while making payments to third parties and remit those deductions to the FIRS.

“The provisions of Sections 78(3), 79(3), 81 of the Companies Income Tax Act (CITA), and Sections 9(I), 13(1) of the Value Added Tax Act (VATA), mandate Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government (MDAs), Parastatals and other establishments to deduct WHT and VAT while making payments to third parties and remit same to the Service.

“By the provisions of the relevant laws, States and Local Governments are statutorily mandated, as agents of collection, to deduct at source and remit to the Service, all taxes deducted, within twenty-one days,” the Notice read.

It further stated that most States and Local Governments have failed to comply with these provisions of the law, despite appeals from the FIRS.

“However, it is regrettable to note that most of the States and Local Governments have failed in their responsibilities of remitting WHT and VAT deducted from payments made to contractors and service providers as required by law.

“The implication is the huge tax debts owed by the States and Local Governments.

“All entreaties by the Service to ensure the remittance of the established unremitted tax deductions by the defaulting States and Local Governments have been unsuccessful as a result of lack of cooperation in adopting the e-payment platforms provided by the FIRS for a seamless deduction and remittance of these taxes.”

Following failure to remit by defaulting States and Local Governments, the FIRS has stated that it will consequently advise the Federal Government and the Honourable Minister of Finance, to henceforth decline approval of any request for the issuance of state bonds or other securities in the capital market; as well as requests for external borrowing and approval for domestic loans from commercial banks or other financial institutions by any of the State and Local Governments with outstanding unremitted tax deductions.

The tax authority stated that it would also publicly name and shame the defaulting States and Local Governments while publishing the amounts owed in unremitted tax deductions.

It further stated that it would also invoke the provisions of Section 24 of its Establishment Act which empowers the Accountant General of the Federation to deduct at source, from the monthly FAAC allocations, un-remitted taxes due from any government agency and to thereafter transfer such deductions to the Federation Account and notify the Service.

The FIRS called on all defaulting States and Local Governments to promptly remit all unremitted tax deductions within 30 days of the publication of the Notice to avoid it taking these enforcement actions.

Johannes Oluwatobi Wojuola
Special Assistant to the Executive Chairman, FIRS
(Media & Communication)
June 1, 2022

UMO ENO’S TENURE AS GOVERNOR WOULD REINFORCE PEACE AND PROSPERITY IN AKWA IBOM STATE – Dr Umanah

~ Ubong Itama

Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the leading gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State has been described a denominator of peace and prosperity, by Dr Uwemedimoh Umanah.

Dr Umanah, the spokesperson for TeamUmoEno, made this avowal on a radio programme, DAKKADA AKWA IBOM on Comfort 95.1 FM, on the 20th of May 2022, noted that Pastor Eno was a technocratic leader, whose tenure as Governor of Akwa Ibom State, from May 29, 2023, would reinforce peace and prosperity in the state.

He said that peace and prosperity were inextricably linked, and that there cannot be prosperity without peace. In his words, “there is a nexus between peace and prosperity because the two are mutually reinforcing. This explains the reasons the most peaceful countries of the world enjoy astronomical growth rate….”

“…It is instructive to note that Highly peaceful countries like Switzerland and Denmark, among others, registered per capita gross domestic product (GDP) growth nearly three times higher than that of low peace countries between 1960 and 2016. Average GDP per capita grew annually by 2.8 per cent in the highly peaceful countries, while the rate was only one percent in the least peaceful countries. Umo Eno’s peace demeanor, therefore, will reinforce better economic performance in Akwa Ibom State…”, said Dr Umanah.

Dr Umanah said that TeamUmoEno is about accentuating the vision of Pastor Umo Eno, who wants to reinforce peace and prosperity in Akwa Ibom State, which Governor Udom Emmanuel had initiated. “It is a assemblage of professionals and excellent minds, geared towards propagating the message of prosperity which our principal exemplifies…”

Dr Umanah appealed to PDP delegates to give reason the front seat, by nominating Pastor Umo Eno to be the gubernatorial standard bearer of the party, because his tenure as Governor of Akwa Ibom State, would functionally reshape the destiny of members of the Akwa Ibom community.

HOPE SURGES IN A’IBOM FOR MORE EXCELLENT LEADERS AS PDP END SENATORIAL DISTRICT ELECTIVE CONGRESSES

… It’s Time to Unite for Greater Progress – Party Electoral C’mttee Chair, Ayo-Odugbesan urges

Hope has surged for the emergence of more conscientious and excellent leaders in Akwa Ibom State through the polls following the widely commended conduct of elective Congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, including the just concluded Senatorial District primary elections held to elect senate candidates of the party in Akwa Ibom for the 2023 general elections.

The State Chairman of the party Rt. Hon (Elder) Aniekan Akpan , who spoke with our reporters while accompanying the Electoral Committee for Akwa Ibom PDP Senatorial District primaries to monitor the exercise, expressed confidence that the party in Akwa Ibom is well positioned to give Akwa Ibomites another batch of cerebral leaders in the mould of the ones produced at various levels in the state since 1999 through the platform of PDP.

Rt Hon Akpan who lauded the conduct of members of the party since the commencement of the primary elections, observed that visionary leaders in Akwa Ibom public service have always been produced by the party and that public opinion suggests that the generality of Akwa Ibomites are anticipating a succeeding set of great leaders from PDP.

“We are aware of the popular opinion that people are anticipating a fresh batch of visionary leaders from PDP in Akwa Ibom State and the on going primaries are leading us closer to the glorious succession at various levels of public service in the state.”

“We did not expect anything different from the well coordinated conduct of the primaries as we have seen today. This is not new to PDP in Akwa Ibom State, it is our house style, our tradition and our disposition as a family which we are. The delegates to the congress have conducted themselves well, the officials and even the aspirants have exhibited maturity during the exercise.”

“There is no element of doubt that PDP will emerge victorious in 2023. Akwa Ibom people have always chosen PDP and in 2023, Akwa Ibom will join the rest of country on the mission to rescue Nigeria”, said the party chairman.

On his part, the Chairman of the party’s Electoral Committee for Akwa Ibom State Senatorial District Primaries, Barr Edwards Ayo-Odugbesan, who monitored the exercise in the various Senatorial Districts, appealed to members of the party to stay united for the greater progress of the party, adding that there is enough room for all interests to be protected, including that of those who are unsuccessful at the primaries.

At Ibom Hall in Uyo where the primary election took place for Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) Senatorial District, party faithful who spoke shortly after the exercise, expressed appreciation to the party for providing a levelled playing ground for all participants to freely exercise their right without obstruction, describing the process as very credible.

Similarly, faithful of the party who were eligible to take part in the exercise at Ikot Ekpene Stadium for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District primary of PDP, in their remarks shortly after the exercise, commended the party for providing a levelled playing field which they note has offered party men and women fair treatment in the process of nominating standard bearers for the party.

Respondents and observers who witnessed the PDP primary in Akwa Ibom South (Eket) Senatorial District, alluded in their seperate comments that the exercise was well conducted with satisfactory outcome which they hold will further strengthen the unity of the party in the state.

Earlier the Senate Primary Electoral Committee for Akwa Ibom State headed by Barr Edwards Ayo-Odugbesan had briefed returning officers on the due process to follow before disbursement of voting materials.

©PDP-AKS PUBLICITY SECRETARIAT

Nigeria’s cautious approach to the endorsement of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)/ G20 Inclusive Framework two-pillar solution to the taxation of the digital economy is in the best interest of the country, and to ensure that Nigeria does not lose out on potential revenue from the digital economy.

This was explained in a statement issued to the press by the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Muhammad Nami, on Monday.

Explaining in his statement, why the agreement is unfair to Nigeria and the developing countries in general, Muhammad Nami stated that the country, having reviewed the conditions of the agreement had concerns over the impact that the signing of the agreement would have on the country’s tax system and tax revenue generation.

“There are serious concerns on how the rules would compound the issues in our tax system. For instance, to be able to tax any digital sale or any multinational enterprise (MNEs), that company or enterprise must have an annual global turnover of €20 billion and a global profitability of 10%. That is a concern. This is because most MNEs that operate in our country do not meet such criteria and we would not be able to tax them.

“Secondly, the €20 billion global annual turnover in question is not just for one accounting year, but it is that the enterprise must make €20 billion revenue and 10% profitability in average for four consecutive years, otherwise that enterprise will never pay tax in our country, but in the country where the enterprise comes from, or its country of residence,” the statement read.

Thirdly he noted that for Nigeria to subject a Multinational Enterprise to tax under the rule, the entity must have generated at least €1 million turnover from Nigeria within a year.

Mr. Muhammad Nami stated that this is an unfair position especially to domestic companies which, with a minimum of above N25 million (that is about €57,000) turnover, are subject to companies income tax in Nigeria. He added that this rule will take-off so many Multinational Enterprises from the scope of those that are currently paying taxes to Nigeria. In other words, even the MNEs that are currently paying taxes in Nigeria would cease to pay taxes to us because of this rule.

Fourthly, on the issue of dispute resolutions under the Two-Pillar Solution, the FIRS Executive Chairman explained that the rules were such that in the event of a dispute between Nigeria and a Multinational Enterprise, Nigeria would be subject to an international arbitration panel as against Nigeria’s own justice system.

“It would be subject to international arbitration and not Nigeria’s judicial system and laws—even where the income is directly related to a Nigerian member of an MNE group, which is ordinarily subject to tax in Nigeria on its worldwide income and subject to the laws of Nigeria. We are concerned about getting a fair deal from such process. More so, such a dispute resolution process with a Multinational Enterprise, in an international arbitration panel outside the country, would lead to heavy expenses on legal services, traveling and other incidental costs.

“Nigeria would spend more; even beyond the tax yield from such cases,” the statement read.

On the issue of Nigeria loosing significant revenue if it fails to sign into the OECD Inclusive Framework rules for the taxation of the digital economy, the FIRS Executive Chairman noted that this was not a problem as the country had already put forward four ongoing solutions to the challenge of taxation of the digital economy.

“One, we have made it a point of practice to annually amend our tax laws to reflect the current global realities, it was courtesy of these reviews that we developed the Significant Economic Presence (SEP) rule, through the Finance Act of 2019 and 2020. The SEP rules set threshold for Multinational Enterprises, without physical presence in Nigeria, for registration and payment of taxes to the country.

“Two, we have deployed technology in order for us to bring digital transactions to the tax net. Coupled with the Significant Economic Presence rule, we have started seeing the impact of the technology we have deployed; companies like Twitter, Facebook, Netflix, LinkedIn, among others who have no physical presence in Nigeria and that were hitherto not paying taxes have now registered for tax purposes and are paying taxes accordingly. A positive to this is that we surpassed our target in the year 2021, despite the challenge posed to the global economy, including our own economy, by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The third initiative is the Data-4-Tax Initiative, a blockchain technology which FIRS is jointly developing with the Internal Revenue Service of the 36 states and that of the FCT, under the auspices of the Joint Tax Board. With this project we are confident that we are going to have a seamless view and access to all economic activities of individuals and corporate bodies in Nigeria going forward, including money spent on digital commerce.

“The fourth is that we have set up a specialised office, the Non-Resident Persons Tax Office, to manage the taxation of non-resident persons and cross-border transactions, including all tax treaty operational issues and income derived from Nigeria by non-resident individuals and companies,” the statement read.

The Executive Chairman, FIRS appreciated members of the Nigerian public who had raised concerns at various occasions over Nigeria’s decision not to endorse the Two-Pillar solution, stating that their concerns came from a place of genuine passion and patriotism, anchored on seeking a better Nigeria.

“The concerns over Nigeria’s decision not to endorse the agreement are well-understood by us. We know that these questions come from a place of genuine concern and passion for a better Nigeria. We appreciate your patriotism,” Mr Nami said.

Johannes Oluwatobi Wojuola
Special Assistant to the Executive Chairman, FIRS
(Media & Communication)
May 23, 2022

By Mahmud Jega

There has been a silent change of baton at the cash inflow pipeline into the Federation Account, the proverbial national cake. For decades the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation [NNPC] held sway as the top national cash cow. Since last year, the oil giant’s contribution to the Federation Account has dwindled to zero, no thanks to the N4 trillion annual subsidy bill which it shoulders on behalf of government.

Non-oil sources have since become the Federation Account’s mainstay. Four sources, Federal Inland Revenue Service [FIRS], Nigeria Customs Service, Department of Petroleum Resources and Ministry of Solid Minerals now generate most of Federation Account’s revenue. Of these, FIRS generates 60%. In other words, if FIRS underperforms, most public servants at all levels will not get their salaries.

The Federal Government deserves pity because 95% of its share of the Federation Account now goes to debt service. This amount, 4 trillion naira, is 60% of FIRS’ annual collection, and you begin to see the scope of the problem. Federal Government now commits 22% of its earnings to the security sector, the highest ever in Nigeria’s history.

Last year, there was uproar by some federal legislators and busybody NGOs that FIRS was going to spend N 1 billion to buy diesel for its generators. It was too much, they all said. Too much? FIRS has 367 operational offices across the country. Most of them are automated, hence the need for steady power supply, and we all know the power supply situation in the country, not to mention the cost of diesel, which tripled since early this year.

Any of the offices that is more than two storeys also has elevators, and many of the offices have one or two 200 KVA generators. FIRS’ huge building in Lagos consumes so much power that it exhausted this year’s diesel budget in the first quarter. But then, it generates N 4 trillion a year, or 60% of FIRS’ entire collection.

FIRS’ annual budget is N130 billion. Before you say “huge,” remember that it has 11,000 staffers, including 2,000 chartered accountants, 700 ANAN members, 500 lawyers and 500 PhDs. Before you say that is huge, the UK Tax Office has 57,000 staffers even though it is fully automated. UK citizens have a much better tax compliance culture than Nigerians have.

Payroll consumes 80% of FIRS’ budget. Every one of the 11,000 staffers has furniture and a laptop. It pays another N4 billion rent a year, for buildings that it does not own. The taxman buys 100 vehicles a year, to replace those that are worn out or accidented. It buys generators, fuels and repairs generators, fuels 2,000 vehicles, pays for labour service agreements including for security and cleaning. By the way, 380 Mobile Policemen are attached to FIRS’ Abuja office and another 100 Mopols are attached to its Lagos office.

Five days after its new Chairman Mohammed Nami reported for duty in December 2018, he was presented with a December salary bill and 13th month’s pay, bundled together, of N8.7 billion. He was off to a rough start because the service’s cash flow for that month was N7.4 billion. Plus, N28 billion in liabilities inherited from the Fowler years. The old tax accountant Nami however found his way through and today, all the liabilities have been cleared.

FIRS is now at the center of national revenue generation effort and the key message there, which its Chairman has been making, is that citizens should pay tax. No payment, no collection, no social amenities. Tax is a social contract between citizens and government; government in turn invests it in security and social amenities. There is talk about increasing the tax rates but if only more citizens and corporations will meet their tax obligations, there may be no need to increase the rates.

One of the biggest loopholes in the tax system right now is that multinational corporations doing business in Nigeria, especially in the oil and gas sector, make use of tax havens and engage in Base Erosion and Profit Shifted practices. This is a very sharp illegal business practice by which goods are imported indirectly from some countries through other countries with low or lax tax regimes, and they are able to short change Nigeria in the process. It is a major challenge that has to be defeated, with all hands on deck.

And then, all citizens should strive to meet their tax obligations. Not only is it high citizen responsibility and highly desirable for the society’s good. Not doing so could also land you in jail. All over the world, the Taxman is not known to wear kid gloves.

CITN 24th Annual Tax Conference: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo Drums Support For FIRS Digitisation Agenda

The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has been urged to support the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in its drive towards full digitalisation of tax administrative processes.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN made this call in his speech at the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria’s (CITN) 24th Annual Tax Conference held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

The Vice President was represented at the event by the Executive Chairman of the FIRS, Muhammad Nami who delivered the address on his behalf.

Professor Osinbajo noted that the theme for the tax conference, “Global Disruption, Taxation and Digitalisation: Implication for Socio-Economic Development” aptly captures the prevailing realities within the national and global fiscal space.

He said, “Nigeria’s economy is fast digitalising. The digitalisation of the Nigerian economy means that the ways and manners of organising and doing businesses have changed. Indeed, the radical changes brought about by digitalisation have displaced the traditional approach to tax administration. Consequently, the digitalisation of tax administration is unavoidable, that is why our government has continued to heavily invest in the automation of tax administrative processes and digital infrastructure.”

He further noted that the government had provided the enabling environment for digitalised tax administration by making necessary tax policy changes, developing rules for taxation of the digital economy, enactment of required legislation, and providing necessary political backing for the team negotiating the new international tax rules for the digitalised economy.

The Vice President urged the institute to see its role in the society as a pillar for the country’s socio-economic development.

“The possible impact of non-compliance by taxpayers—whom you hold briefs for—on the government’s revenue and the larger society is crucial and must be given topmost priority while holding briefs for them.

“In doing so, you must always bear in mind the pronouncement of the Court of Appeal in Phoenix Motors v. National Provident Fund Management Board (1993) that it is in the best interest of the society at large that government be in revenue.

“It is through this prism that I see your Institute as a pillar for the socio-economic development of Nigeria and the emancipation of the downtrodden of our society. Without a doubt, your members will continue to discharge the solemn and sacred responsibility of ensuring that the interest of the larger society in Nigeria is not trodden upon; and this you must do with patriotic zeal.” He noted.

Ekong Sampson: Best Man for Eket Senate Seat

Eket Senatorial District deserves a Senator in the mould of Rt Hon.(Barr.) Ekong Sampson. He is a man with the right personality, political disposition and qualifications for the top job. It was no surprising when Chief Nduese Essien, Leader of Eket Senatorial District Elders Forum described Barr. Sampson as ‘a highly sellable senate material – who has all it takes to be a great senator for Eket Senatorial District’. All around the senatorial district, the Ekong Sampson reviews have been generally very glowing.

Suffice to say that Dr. Sampson has always been destined to be in the Nigerian Senate as a Senator. In fact, it was in the Senate that he cut his political teeth, when he served as Chief Legislative/Special Assistant to the iconic Senator Udoma Udo Udoma in the early 2000s.

Since then, he has prepared, waited, readied himself and built the needed capacity and clout for what will be a glorious return to the Red Chambers in 2023 for him.

For his famed bridge building disposition, he has become a ‘square peg in a square hole’ aspirant for a multi diverse district like Akwa Ibom South. He ticks many boxes of an ideal Senate material.

With a Ph.D in Law and a legislative background spanning from Councilorship to Council Chairman and later as a two term House of Assembly member, Barr. Sampson is just perfectly ripe for the Eket Senate job.

Ultimately, his, is a Divine orchestrated aspiration. He is favoured by zoning, cognate experience and undoubted capacity.

He is the preferred choice of the crown, he is the preferred choice of the people. He is the toast of the Ibibio, Oro, Ekid and Obolo delegates, because he is highly detribalized and does not segregate. He is a mature, well bred politician who exudes decorum and class – he will restore representative elegance and content to Eket Senatorial District. Dr. Ekong Sampson is a champion of empowerment, albeit a silent one. He is not easily given to fanfare. He has sustainably empowered hundreds of people over the years; he is not an emergency philanthropist.

Barr. Ekong Sampson is a humble, selfless, accessible man who lives for all. Indeed, the good people of Eket Senatorial District are excited with Ekong Sampson’s aspiration because a new era in quality legislative representation and massive empowerments beckons with him.

Let’s join hands and send Onomkpoinam Mkpat Enin, clearly our best material to the Senate.

EkongSampsonForSenate2023