After what seem like an endless wait and probably in reaction to the barrage of enquiries from stakeholders, the House of Representatives last week commenced clause- by- clause consideration of the Port and Harbour Bill, 2009.
Insider sources within the lower legislature old our correspondent last week that actual consideration of the Bill started mid-week, but it ran into hitches when the House got to Part V which deals with financial provisions.
Some legislators were said to have raised eyebrows over certain provisions in the Bill which tend to give Nigerian Ports Authourity an unfettered financial autonomy. They were said to be particularly worried by the implications of Part V, Section 17 of the proposed law.
Specifically, they picked holes in section 17(1) which says that “without prejudice to the power of the Authority to set aside from its revenue appropriate amounts for replacement contingencies and other purposes, the Authority shall establish maintain in a general reserve fund and such other reserve funds as the Minister may, from time to time, approve”.
The same applies to Section (2) which stipulates that “any excess of the Authority’s revenue for any year over its outgoings and charges for that year shall be applied for such purposes as the Authority may determine but no part of the excess shall be applied otherwise than for the purposes of the Authority”.
Sources hinted that the lower chamber saw the provisions as impugning on their statutory over sight function, hence the need to seek further clarifications.
Shipping Position Weekly confirmed last week that some members of the lower chamber who are seen as vocal and who possess the wherewithal to truncate the passage of the Bill were invited for a special briefing by members of the House committee on marine transport and the Nigerian Ports Authourity.
Our correspondent confirmed that the closed-door meeting actually held mid- last week where NPA was able to throw more light on its operations and why those provisions have to be included and urged the law makers to allow the sections to stay as they are contained in the Bill.
It is expected that the House will continue its consideration of the Bill this week.
Discussion about this post