AKHA PUBLIC HEARING: CHRAN REJECTS THE OBNOXIOUS & MONSTROUS AKWA IBOM TAXES AND LEVIES BILL (PROPERTY TAX BILL)

 

An Overview of the Akwa Ibom State Taxes and Levies Bill, 2025:

The Bill has 46 Sections and 1 Schedule. The Bill is divided into 4 functional Parts. Part I makes provision for the Harmonised Taxes And Levies and the Objectives of the Bill. Part II makes provision for Property Tax. Part III makes provision for Taxes on Lottery, Betting, Casino And Other Gaming Activities. Part IV makes provision for Miscellaneous Provisions. The Bill seeks to harmonise various taxes and levies in Akwa Ibom state. 

The Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) has critically analysed the Bill and makes the following submissions:

1. In sections 16 and 19 of the Bill, the CHRAN notes that the Bill seeks to make tenancy life become a life of hardship and misery as any tax(es) imposed on Real Property owners and landlords will be transferred to the tenants in the state. 

2. In section 21(2) of the Bill, the Center notes that the Bill seeks to promote absentee landlords by transferring the liability of the landlords to the occupier(s) of the property without even masking to be anti-people. 

3. The CHRAN observes that the Bill does not distinguish between houses in the urban cities and houses in the rural communities. Even houses occupied by the poorest of the poor in the society including occupants of mud houses will be taxed in line with sections 16 and 19 of the Bill. This completely negates the campaign mantra of the ARISE Agenda which portrays the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno to be a friend and a lover of the poor in the society. 

4. The Center observes that the Items so listed in the Schedule to the Bill have strangulating characteristics that will shutdown private sector economy in Akwa Ibom State. The Center notes that the Bill does not allow citizens the ambiance to manoeuvre. The Bill is very strict and only interested in collecting revenue for the governments without any ambiance for reliefs in favour of the citizens.

5. The CHRAN notes that Akwa Ibom State is a civil service state with little or no functional state-owned industries and factories. The private sector in Akwa Ibom State hardly survives due to epileptic electricity power supply, lack of water supply from Akwa Ibom Water Company and lack of other supporting public infrastructural amenities to create enabling environment for private businesses to thrive in the state. Few surviving private businesses in Akwa Ibom state have resorted to alternative source of energy such as generating sets powered at higher cost of fuel and diesel.

6. The CHRAN observes that certain terms invented by the Bill are dangerously calculated to emasculate Akwa Ibom citizens and create dubious ambiguity. For instance, the word “ENFORCEMENT” as used in the   context of section 28(2) of the Bill is capable of many dubious interpretations including meaning seizures of people’s property. To further doubt the motive of the word “ENFORCEMENT” used in section 28(2) of the Bill, there is no definition of the word “ENFORCEMENT” in the Interpretation section (section 30) of the Bill.

7. The Center notes, giving that the word ENFORCEMENT is deployed under section 28 of the Bill that deals with default in payment, it could only have been invented to cause destruction of lives of the poor in the Akwa Ibom state. The CHRAN notes that section 28(1) of the Bill stipulating Default in Payment to the extent that “where a person who has received a Property Tax Demand Notice fails to pay the amount within the period specified in the notice, the Charge payable will be increased by the following percentage: between 45 and 75 days - 25%; between 76 and 105 days - 50% and between 106 and 135 days - 100%.” In effect, if one’s assessment is N100,000.00 and one default in payment, when it is 135 days, one will now pay N200,000.00 and if payment is not made after 135 days, the property on which the Property Tax is payable shall be liable to ENFORCEMENT under the provisions of this Part of the Bill by the Akwa Ibom Internal Revenue Service or its appointed agents until all outstanding taxes, penalties and administrative charges are paid. 

8. The CHRAN observes that the Bill is in violation of Section 43 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 ( as amended) which guarantees every citizen of Nigeria the right to acquire and own immovable property anywhere in Nigeria, as well as Article 14 of African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights 1981 (Banjul Charter); and Article 17 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 1948 which Nigeria is a signatory to. The CHRAN notes that in other climes, citizens’ right to ownership of property is recognised and protected under several human rights instruments.

Conclusion:

The Center states that there are no better definitions of the words draconian, anti-people, oppressive, monstrous and obnoxious than the provisions of this Bill which seeks to punish poverty and further impoverish the already deprived citizens of Akwa Ibom State. 

The CHRAN rejects the Bill in its entirety and calls on the members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly that prides itself as the people’s assembly, to rise in support of the citizens, include their names in the annals of history by standing down further consideration of the Bill. The CHRAN recalls that a similar Bill was presented to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in 2016, and was outrightly rejected by the people of the state. 

The Center appreciates the Speaker, the Leadership and Members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for the invitation to this Public Hearing.

BEING A PRESENTATION BY THE DIRECTOR OF CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS & ACCOUNTABILITY NETWORK (CHRAN), OTUEKONG FRANKLYN ISONG, AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON “A BILL FOR A LAW TO HARMONIZE AND CONSOLIDATE THE LEGAL FRAMEWORKS RELATING TO TAXES IN AKWA IBOM STATE AND FOR OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH,” HELD AT LUTON PARK HOTELS, OFF UDO UDOMA AVENUE, UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE, ON WEDNESDAY, 4TH FEBRUARY, 2026.

Bishop John Ayah lays Foundation for New Catholic Church Building Project Sponsored by Senator Ekong Sampson

 

His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. John Ayah, the Catholic Bishop of Uyo Diocese, yesterday, laid the foundation stone to flag off the construction of a new Catholic Church building project sponsored by the Senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Ekong Sampson. 

The foundation-laying ceremony, which attracted a large turnout of parishioners and community members, marked a significant milestone in the expansion of Catholic Church infrastructure in Ikot Unya village, Mkpat Enin Local Government Areas.

Performing the solemn rites, Bishop Ayah, who was accompanied by his Secretary at the Bishop’s Court, Rev. Fr. Daniel Asukwo, offered prayers for the successful completion of the project and for the continued growth of the Catholic faith in the area. 

The Bishop commended Senator Ekong Sampson for what he described as a remarkable gesture of faith and commitment to the work of God, noting that the project will not only strengthen worship but also serve as a training centre to develop morals among young people and families.

Senator Ekong Sampson, who was represented at the event by Hon. Nkereuwem James, remarked that the church project was his humble way of giving back to God, the Church, and the people. In his goodwill message, the Senator reaffirmed his belief in the power of faith and the vital role religious institutions play in building a morally upright and peaceful society.

The Lawmaker urged the Church to continue offering prayers for leaders at all levels and for the unity and progress of Nigeria, while reiterating his commitment to promoting spiritual development and strengthening social values across the constituency.

Beyond the church project, Senator Sampson’s developmental footprints in Ikot Unya and its environs remain evident in several ongoing and completed interventions. These include the ongoing construction of the Ikot Unya–Nung Ukim–Ikot Ekpe road project, as well as the construction of a CBT/ICT Centre in Excellent College, he established in 2004, and made tuition-free for several years before it was handed over to the Akwa Ibom State Government. 

It was further disclosed that three additional road projects facilitated by Senator Sampson will soon be flagged off soon, while a Police Post has also been approved for Ikot Unya to enhance security and protect critical infrastructure in the area, including the reactivation of electricity transformer, installation of solar-powered street lights, and the provision of portable water.

The historic ceremony was graced by eminent personalities including Hon. Friday Afia, former Secretary of Mkpat Enin Local Government Council; SUPOL Sylvester Dominic, Chairman of the Parish Pastoral Council; Mr. Sylvester Obot, Chairman of the Project Committee; and Catechist Basil Akpan, among others.

The event ended on a note of thanksgiving as parishioners expressed gratitude for Senator Sampson’s continued support and prayed for God’s blessings and guidance upon him in his service to the people of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District.

Usen Johnson Emerges NANS PRO, Hails Senator Ekong Sampson for Support

 

By Bassey Eduno 

In a keenly contested election held on February 4, 2026, at the IJAW House, Bayelsa State, Comrade Usen Johnson defeated Comrade Inibehe Victor to emerge as the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone B (South-South).

The Mkpat Enin-born student leader expressed deep gratitude to the Onomkpoinam Mkpat Enin, Senator Ekong Sampson, for his overwhelming support. He described the Senator, who represents Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, as a beacon of inspiration and a pillar of support, noting that his backing was instrumental to his electoral victory as NANS Public Relations Officer.

With the victory, Comrade Usen Johnson is returning to a familiar terrain of leadership and student activism, having previously distinguished himself in several strategic positions across various institutions. He has served as the Worldwide President of the National Association of Akwa Ibom State Students (NAAKISS), Director of Education Monitoring in the National Executive Committee of NANS, President of the Philosophy Department at Abia State University, and Secretary General of the Students’ Union Government at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt.

The mouthpiece, image maker, and newly elected Public Relations Officer of Nigerian students in the South-South region is currently pursuing his second degree in Law at the prestigious Faculty of Law, University of Uyo. He also holds a Diploma in Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.

Already, Comrade Johnson has expressed readiness to uphold the ideals and core values of NANS through effective public engagement, responsible communication, and strategic advocacy aimed at projecting the association’s image positively across the region and beyond.

He dedicated his electoral victory to the myriad of Aluta Conscious Comrades, pledging to operate an open-door policy, strengthen the communication architecture of NANS Zone B, and ensure that the voices of Nigerian students remain loud, clear, and respected in national discourse.

With his wealth of experience, academic background, and passion for student advocacy, many observers believe that Comrade Usen Johnson’s tenure as PRO will usher in a new era of strategic communication, stronger unity, and renewed visibility for NANS Zone B, as the association continues to champion the rights and welfare of Nigerian students.