DISTINGUISHED SENATOR GERSHOM BASSEY BIOGRAPHY

Gershom Henry Bassey (born March 18, 1962 in Lagos , Nigeria) is a Nigerian politician and businessman. He is the senator representing Cross River South Senatorial District in the

Nigerian Senate. He is a senator of the 8th and 9th National Assembly in Nigeria respectively.

 

Personal life and education:  Gershom Bassey (born March 18, 1962) in Lagos, Nigeria, hails from

Calabar South local government area of Cross River State. He is married to Chioma Gershom-Bassey with children. Bassey attended Corona School Apapa, Lagos for his primary school then moved on to Federal Government College, Sokoto where he obtained his

West African School Certificate in 1977. In 1979, he received his A-Level certificate from Greylands College, Isles of Wight, United Kingdom. He studied Engineering Production and Economics at University of Wales, Cardiff where he graduated with a BSc in 1984. In 1986, he received an MSc in Construction Management from

Brunel University London. [ citation needed ]

He is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers (NICE) and has received an award of recognition from the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

Career;

Bassey started his political career when he was appointed Chairman, Cross River State Water Board in 1999. He also served as the Chairman of the Strategic Policy Committee in Cross River State. In 2014, Bassey declared his interest for the seat of the senate for Calabar South senatorial district. In 2015, he was elected Senator for Calabar South senatorial district. He was also appointed the Vice Chairman of the Senate committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream). In 2017, Ripples Nigeria made a publication of a list of "Bench Warmer" senators and Senator Bassey was number five on the list. In the run up to the 2019 elections during the People's Democratic Party primaries, Bassey reportedly had a confrontation with his opponent Ntufam Ekpo Okon which eventually led to a fight and postponement of the primaries by the Cross River State Senatorial Primary Election Committee. It was also reported that supporters of Ntufam Ekpo Okon attacked the motorcade of Bassey. Following the attack on Bassey, Ntufam Okon was disqualified by the Cross River State Senatorial Primary Election Committee and Bassey emerged the winner. In February 2019, the election was held and Bassey emerged the winner. 

Sponsored Bills: 

During the 8th National Assembly, he sponsored several bills that namely "Correction, Reformation and Re-integration Centre (establishment, etc) Bill, 2016" and the " Federal College of Forestry Technology and Research, Akamkpa (establishment, etc) Bill " which were passed. He sponsored a bill named " A Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody)(Special Provision) Act, CAP C40 LFN 2011 and for Other Related Matters", the bill progressed through to the second reading stage. Other bills he sponsored that only went through the first reading are the "Fire (Hazard, Prevention and Safeguard) Bill ", the "National Boundary Commission Act (Amendment) Bill ", " Flags and Coat of Arms Act (Amendment) Bill ", "Federal Polytechnic Akpabuyo (Est.etc.) Bill " and the " Nigerian Research Institute of Fisheries and Aquatic, Bakassi (Est.etc) Bill ".