The Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA) has raised an alarm over what they called double taxation, saying that Nigerian shipowners are now being compelled by the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to come forward and register their vessels, barges and thugs.
The association has however expressed its worries about NIWA's demands, even as it expressed readiness to take up the matter with the National Assembly because it is a case of double taxation from NIMASA as statutory flag state control administration and the NIWA.
The Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA) has raised an alarm over what they called double taxation, saying that Nigerian shipowners are now being compelled by the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to come forward and register their vessels, barges and thugs.
The association has however expressed its worries about NIWA's demands, even as it expressed readiness to take up the matter with the National Assembly because it is a case of double taxation from NIMASA as statutory flag state control administration and the NIWA.
This is even as the NISA has set up a four-man standing disciplinary committee headed by Mr. Brendan Agbasielo to look into controversies within the association and to impose necessary sanctions on erring members.
President of NISA, Capt Niyi Labinjo at the First Quarter 2015 General Meeting of NISA in Lagos yesterday said that NIWA had written to the association, claiming that it has statutory backing of its Act to register vessels and crafts.
Members of the association however agreed unanimously that, apart from demanding a tripartite meeting between NISA, NIMASA and NIWA to resolve the issue, the association should approach the National Assembly.
The NISA members equally called for adjustment in the proposed NIWA Act which is currently being deliberated for passage by the National Assembly as approval by Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Speaking, Labinjo said, "we received a letter from NIWA few weeks ago, telling us to please arrange to come and register our vessels, and I asked the representative of NIWA where they got such powers, he brought out the NIWA Act and their instructions where they got the powers that all ships, barges, and crafts working on the water must be registered by NIWA and I was shocked"
"Asking us to do this is a perfect double taxation, so it will be in order for us to write NIMASA, National Assembly and NIWA about the double taxation" he said
Even though he acknowledged that both agencies have statutory backing of their Act to register ships, Labinjo warned that if not resolved, ship owners will be the ones to suffer for it.
"So, instead of us to suffer, it is better for the three of us to come together, recognize the overlap and double taxation and resolve it, and this is what we are working towards. We have written to NIMASA over this issue and we are waiting for them to convey the tripartite meeting which is going to be at their behest and I am sure this will be done soon" he assured.
While addressing the media on his purported removal by the executives of the association, Labinjo stressed that the President is the alter ego of the association, and that every other person, though elected, must take their cue from the president.
After briefing the general house on the controversial private business with the daughter of the former president of the association, Chief Isaac Jolapamo, the members of the association dismissed allegations against Labinjo describing it as baseless.
According to them, it is wrong for the members of the executive to ask the President to step aside on account of his private business which has nothing to do with the association.
Subsequently, a disciplinary committee was constituted to look into the actions of the executives who according to the members have brought disrepute to the association.
The standing disciplinary committee is headed by Mr. Brendnan Agbasielo while other members include; Rasak lawal, Capt Banji Agbebi, Capt Oluwadare Shola, and one Madam Florence.
Also at the meeting, the association inaugurated the Lagos Coordinator of NISA, Capt. Franklin Akinpelu as the substantive Coordinator after being in acting capacity since the elections conducted last year.
Discussion about this post