Constitution Review, Appropriation Bill Delay Passage Of Maritime Bills

On-going debates on the review of 1999 constitution and debate on the 2010 appropriation bill which was passed last week are taking their tolls on the much-expected passage of three outstanding maritime industry bills which have been passed on to the House of Representatives for more than five weeks.

Out of the four, only the Maritime Security Agency bill has been considered and passed; leaving the equally important Ports and Harbour Bill, Maritime Zone Bill and the Chartered Institute of Nigeria Bill unattended to.

Shipping Position Weekly had last week given an insight into why the Maritime Security Agency bill was passed ahead of the other three which had been table before it.

But sources close to the House of Representatives committee on marine transport told our correspondent last week that the three bills could not be attended to by the lower legislature owing largely to the need to pass the 2010 appropriation bill and the on-going review of the 1999 constitution.

Worst hit by the debates is the Chartered Institute of Shipping of Nigeria bill which our correspondent reliably gathered was expected to be laid for clause by clause consideration on Wednesday, but which had to be stood down for debate on the 2010 budget. 

In fact, promoters of the bill had already got wind of its likely passage last Wednesday; only to be told that it was not even listed on the order paper for the day, even though another source told our correspondent that it was listed, but had to be dropped.

A member of the committee told Shipping Position Weekly that as much as the committee was eager to get the bills done with, the more important and more national issues such as the appropriation and the constitution review will take precedence.

“The three bill have been on queue for a while, there are other bills too  that have emanated  from other committees and which are also awaiting consideration, but we must appreciate the fact that they can no come up until we are done with more critical issues that have more national consequences”.