Buhari Writes Senate, Explains Decision to Decline Assent to NTC Bill
*Says NTC Bill conflicts with regulatory oversight of new Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
*Wants establishment of new entity
Bello: Govt has a broader perspective, wider network to assess a bill
By Francis Ugwoke
President Muhammadu Buhari has formally written to the National Assembly explaining why he cannot sign the National Transport Commission (NTC) Bill into law after it was passed by the legislative House last year.
In a letter to the Senate President dated April 18 and received April 28, Buhari gave three reasons on why he will not give assent to the Bill.
According to the letter sighted by SHIPPING DAY, the first reason is that “the broad regulatory ambit of the proposed NTC over the operation and management of the vast Nigeria Transport Sector subordinating all subsisting institutions and structures to the NTC conflicts with areas of regulatory oversight of the recently established Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission”.
The second reason is that “ the Bill seeks under Part XX1 Section 110(1) & (2) to take away the authority of the Minister for Works as conferred by the Federal Highways Act in the management , direction, and control of Federal Highways in Nigeria and vest the power in the Commission”.
The third reason is that “the provision of Sections 107(3), 108 and the Third Schedule to the Bill which attempt to transfer the obligations and liabilities of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to the Commission and transmute the NSC into the NTC are misconceived”.
The letter said the Commission should be “established as a new entity in view of the required skill set and expertise for the performance of its regulatory function”.
NTC Bill appears to have taken the shape of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) which process started in 2008 and passed last year but which assent was turned down by the President.
Similarly, the process of passing the NTC Bill started about 10 years ago before it was passed by the Senate last year.
When contacted on his reaction to the report that the NTC Bill may not be signed into law by the President, the Executive Secretary, NSC, Mr Hassan Bello, simply said the federal government was in a better position to determine which bill to pass or not.
Bello said that the federal government would have consulted widely before taking a position on what to do in respect of the NTC Bill.
Noting that the present government is one which believes in process and procedure, Bello said government considers a lot of issues before a bill is assented.
Arguing that the present government is always pointing to an economic direction for the good of the country, Bello added that whatever it decides remains for the best interest of the country.
Bello said, “ the federal government is in a better position to determine which bill to pass or not. The NTC Bill is not an exception. Government has a broader perspective. Government has a wider network to assess a bill. It is important that this government particularly is meticulous. It is a government of process and procedure. It is a government of law. So, if the government thinks that the NTC bill may not be passed, then that is a superior argument. Government always considers a lot of issues before signing a bill and I am sure there was a wider consultation on this issue. Don’t forget that this bill is an industry bill. It is not just a bill for the Nigerian Shippers Council. It is a bill that concerns wider ministries, Ministry of Finance, Transport, Aviation and so many other sectors because it is a multi-sectoral bill. So, it is not just about NSC, it is about the industry, about the country.
“This is a government that is pointing to an economic direction for the country. Government is going to talk about the cost of doing business, government talks about the size of government itself and so many other factors that come into consideration. So, if a superior argument has emerged to say that NTC bill should be withheld pending passage of time or may be substituted by a review of NSC Act, then that is coming from a sound perspective”.
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