Why We Want NSC Act Amended, by Pius Akutah
BARR AKUTAH
By Francis Ugwoke
The Executive Secretary of Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr Pius Akutah, has said that the ports economic regulator is seeking the amendment of its 2004 Act to be more equipped to improve on ports efficiency.
Akutah said the amendment will further give the NSC a better enabling environment under which it can perform its statutory obligations within the ambit of the law.
Speaking with members of the League of Maritime Editors (LOME) recently during a courtesy visit, he disclosed that the Council will pursue the amendment to be carried out in the second quarter of 2024.
The new Act will strengthen the incorporation of the regulations of the NSC as economic regulator, he said.
According to him, the new Act will include other enablers that the Council has been looking for as ports economic regulator.
Akutah pointed out that under the present Act which provides for two percent port development levy as funding was inadequate considering the enormous statutory obligations of the Council.
“With the amendment, the regulatory job of the agency will improve. Otherwise at the moment what we take as 2% port development levy is not adequate. It is not enough to achieve the mandate for which we are set to do”, he said
The NSC CEO disclosed that the Council has already approached the National Assembly to seek their intervention for the amendment.
He said, “we have the support of the National Assembly and we believe that not later than second quarter of 2024, the Act will be passed. This Act will help us not only to fully establish statutorily that we are the port economic regulator/trade facilitator, but it will give us enabling environment within which to work within the ambit of the law. That Act will incorporate the regulations of the NSC as economic regulator”.
He disclosed that his Council has the support of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and all other stakeholders in the bid to amend the old Act, adding that it was all for the best interest of the industry.
Akutah said his Council was determined to continue to promote ports efficiency and operations around the ports .
He added, “we want to promote at least 24 hours of cargo clearance so that gradually we can move into international standard.
“We want to also promote implementation of the electronic traffic management system in the ports which is ongoing. We see this as improving on our ports efficiency. Aside this, there are so many things we intend to do during the coming year to ensure that our ports are placed on global standard for trade facilitation”.
The Executive Secretary of Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr Pius Akutah, has said that the ports economic regulator is seeking the amendment of its 2004 Act to be more equipped to improve on ports efficiency.
Akutah said the amendment will further give the NSC a better enabling environment under which it can perform its statutory obligations within the ambit of the law.
Speaking with members of the League of Maritime Editors (LOME) recently during a courtesy visit, he disclosed that the Council will pursue the amendment to be carried out in the second quarter of 2024.
The new Act will strengthen the incorporation of the regulations of the NSC as economic regulator, he said.
According to him, the new Act will include other enablers that the Council has been looking for as ports economic regulator.
Akutah pointed out that under the present Act which provides for two percent port development levy as funding was inadequate considering the enormous statutory obligations of the Council.
“With the amendment, the regulatory job of the agency will improve. Otherwise at the moment what we take as 2% port development levy is not adequate. It is not enough to achieve the mandate for which we are set to do”, he said
The NSC CEO disclosed that the Council has already approached the National Assembly to seek their intervention for the amendment.
He said, “we have the support of the National Assembly and we believe that not later than second quarter of 2024, the Act will be passed. This Act will help us not only to fully establish statutorily that we are the port economic regulator/trade facilitator, but it will give us enabling environment within which to work within the ambit of the law. That Act will incorporate the regulations of the NSC as economic regulator”.
He disclosed that his Council has the support of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and all other stakeholders in the bid to amend the old Act, adding that it was all for the best interest of the industry.
Akutah said his Council was determined to continue to promote ports efficiency and operations around the ports .
He added, “we want to promote at least 24 hours of cargo clearance so that gradually we can move into international standard.
“We want to also promote implementation of the electronic traffic management system in the ports which is ongoing. We see this as improving on our ports efficiency. Aside this, there are so many things we intend to do during the coming year to ensure that our ports are placed on global standard for trade facilitation”.
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