The Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Mr Boss Mustapha has explained that the major reason the National Transport Commission (NTC) Bill is yet to be signed into law by the President is because the government is still sorting some technicalities and use of languages that may lead to overlap of functions with other agencies.
Mustapha, who said this last week in Lagos during the Night of Appreciation organized by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), also promised that as soon as the issues are sorted, the Bill will be assented to by the President.
The NTC Bill seeks to transmute the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to the new agency which is expected to superintend all activities in the transportation sector of the nation’s economy.
The SGF who was represented at the event by Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs at the Office of the SGF, Mr. Gabriel Ayuba, reiterated that the executive arm of the government is committed to playing its role to ensure that the bill is passed as soon as possible.
Giving subtle credence to the lobby for the President not to assent to the Bill, Mustapha acknowledged that, as it is presently, there are areas of conflict and overlap among agencies of government.
"The National Assembly passed the National Transport Commission bill earlier this year, but we are sorting some technicalities and use of language that will border non-overlap of functions with other agencies and needed to be clearly delineated. As soon as that is sorted out, we should have a befitting law for the good of the whole nation. I can assure you however that on its part the executive is committed to playing its role in the passage of the bill into law", he assured.
It is however unclear if the Bill will be sent back to the National Assembly since it can not be assented to in the way it was passed by the Legislature.
Shipping Position Daily however confirmed that there is a very strong opposition to the bill by chief executives of some sister agencies of government.
The agencies opposed to the signing of the Bill are reportedly uncomfortable with the transmutation of Shippers Council to the NTC.
As part of efforts to smoothen all rough edges, our correspondent learnt last week that the Minister of Transportation; Mr Rotimi Amaechi recently summoned a meeting between the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council and that of the Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The Bill was passed in March 2018 by the Senate in March 2018.
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