The Nigerian Shippers Council is on the verge of a significant legislative milestone as the House of Representatives has passed a crucial bill set to enhance the council’s regulatory powers.
Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the council, Barrister Pius Akutah announced this development during the opening ceremony of 2024 Operational Retreat for Middle Level Management officers of the council noting that the Senate was prepared to pass the bill as well.
Recall that the Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill 2023, which seeks to repeal the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Act Cap N133 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria has passed second reading at the House of Representatives. The bill when passed into law will enact the Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Act.
Despite the Senate’s readiness, Akutah noted that the bill’s passage was delayed due to discussions on the supplementary budget, causing the Senate to adjourn without addressing the bill. He said the National Assembly has since gone on recess. However, Akutah remains confident that the Senate will pass the bill promptly once they reconvene.
The NSC Executive Secretary expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of the Honorable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Hon. Adegboyega Oyetola who has been pivotal in crafting policies to bolster the sector’s contribution to the national GDP. He highlighted the Nigerian Shippers Council’s crucial role in advancing the country’s economy and emphasized that the new legislation will empower the council to enforce regulations more effectively, thus benefiting the entire sector.
Akutah stressed that the bill’s passage will enable the council to transition from a regulatory body that merely advises to one that can enforce compliance robustly. Akutah called on the council’s staff, describing them as the agency’s “engine room,” to continue their dedicated efforts in ensuring the sector’s success and achieving the government’s economic objectives.
In his words: “Just last week, the House of Representatives passed our bill. That’s a big step in the right direction. And just this last Tuesday, the Senate was poised to pass a bill so that it begins to prepare for Presidential Assent. We were there at the National Assembly up until 11pm, but because of the supplementary budget, that line on the other paper of the Senate was not taken. And the Senate has gone on recess, the whole National Assembly has gone on recess. But we believe that as soon as they are back from recess, that law will be passed. And that bill will be passed by the grace of God.
“I want to give you the greetings of the Honorable Minister, who has been very supportive to us as a council, who is driving the new economy, writing up the policy for this sector, and to see that it kicks off to achieve the desire of Mr. President for this sector to contribute to the national GDP. The Nigerian Shippers Council, I want to let you know, is not just a factor in that regard, but is a key factor.
“In moving the economy of this country forward through this sector that we have here. And the role that we are playing as economic regulators, once we have the law in place, which gives us the capacity to not only bark but fight, I believe that the sector will be better for it. And we are counting on all of you as well as here, as the engine room of this agency” Akutah said
