Our Plans to Boost Trade Facilitation at Ports with ICTN Implementation for Revenue Generation, by Shippers’ Council Boss
AKUTAH (CENTER) AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS AT THE RETREAT ORGANISED BY THE COUNCIL LAST WEEK..
By Francis Ugwoke
• Unveils plans for paperless operations, sets August target
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) at the weekend unveiled plans to boost trade facilitation and revenue generation at the nation’s ports by implementing the much awaited Integrated Customs Tariff Nomenclature (ICTN).
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Barr. Akutah Pius. MON disclosed this during the opening ceremony of Council’s Management Retreat in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Akutah said there were many benefits in introducing the ICTN, adding that apart from being a major source of revenue, it would also lead to contributing more to the national GDP.
The theme of the three- days management retreat was tagged” Unlocking potentials of Marine and Blue Economy for Rapid National Economic Development”
Akutah said that the ICTN will aid the Council’s fiscal drive, noting that the agency is adding revenue generation to its previously pure regulatory and mandatory functions in the maritime sector.
He said, “When we have the ICTN implemented, it would be a major source of revenue, not only for the Council, but for Nigeria, it would grow our economy, and with that, we would contribute to the national GDP”.
The NSC boss also unveiled plans to begin full paperless operations by August 2024 in a bid to aid effective service delivery as the nation’s port economic regulator.
According to him, the NSC was also determined to make contributions to the development and implementation of a National Policy on Marine & Blue Economy.
The ES promised to improve on the welfare of the workforce through promotion of staff, noting that “there is more senior staff in the agency than the junior staff’.
He said, “Promotion is a key element in driving productivity in any establishment, so we would consider the issue of promotion. However, it would also be by a system that ensures that there is growth and also recognise contribution of individuals, it would be a reward system for people who put in their best.
“We have seen that the Council is in dare need of more staff, we have seen a situation where the top is heavy, while the middle and down is very lean, and we have a top which I believe that in the next one year, so many of our Directors exiting the system, so what do we do to replace them, we need to act very fast”
In his address, the Executive Governor of Ogun State, . Prince Dapo Abiodun applauded Nigerian Shippers’ Council for the development of Transport infrastructure projects.
The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the Ogun State Government , Mr Tokunbo Talabi. said Shippers’ Council remains critical in actualizing the aspirations of the Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy.
The Director, Strategic Planning & Research Department of the Council, Mr. Olurotimi Anifowose in his presentation titled ” The NSC Strategic Plan :The journey so far taking into consideration the achievements, challenges and recommendations, gave comparative analysis of the 2023 strategic plan.
Prof. Adesola Osibona, a lecturer in University of Lagos gave a presentation tagged ” Repositioning the NSC: :The imperatives of Economic Regulation in Marine & Blue Economy”.
Adesola spoke extensively on the Marine & Blue Economy, its components and other array of issues relating to the topic. the under discourse.
• Unveils plans for paperless operations, sets August target
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) at the weekend unveiled plans to boost trade facilitation and revenue generation at the nation’s ports by implementing the much awaited Integrated Customs Tariff Nomenclature (ICTN).
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Barr. Akutah Pius. MON disclosed this during the opening ceremony of Council’s Management Retreat in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Akutah said there were many benefits in introducing the ICTN, adding that apart from being a major source of revenue, it would also lead to contributing more to the national GDP.
The theme of the three- days management retreat was tagged” Unlocking potentials of Marine and Blue Economy for Rapid National Economic Development”
Akutah said that the ICTN will aid the Council’s fiscal drive, noting that the agency is adding revenue generation to its previously pure regulatory and mandatory functions in the maritime sector.
He said, “When we have the ICTN implemented, it would be a major source of revenue, not only for the Council, but for Nigeria, it would grow our economy, and with that, we would contribute to the national GDP”.
The NSC boss also unveiled plans to begin full paperless operations by August 2024 in a bid to aid effective service delivery as the nation’s port economic regulator.
According to him, the NSC was also determined to make contributions to the development and implementation of a National Policy on Marine & Blue Economy.
The ES promised to improve on the welfare of the workforce through promotion of staff, noting that “there is more senior staff in the agency than the junior staff’.
He said, “Promotion is a key element in driving productivity in any establishment, so we would consider the issue of promotion. However, it would also be by a system that ensures that there is growth and also recognise contribution of individuals, it would be a reward system for people who put in their best.
“We have seen that the Council is in dare need of more staff, we have seen a situation where the top is heavy, while the middle and down is very lean, and we have a top which I believe that in the next one year, so many of our Directors exiting the system, so what do we do to replace them, we need to act very fast”
In his address, the Executive Governor of Ogun State, . Prince Dapo Abiodun applauded Nigerian Shippers’ Council for the development of Transport infrastructure projects.
The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the Ogun State Government , Mr Tokunbo Talabi. said Shippers’ Council remains critical in actualizing the aspirations of the Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy.
The Director, Strategic Planning & Research Department of the Council, Mr. Olurotimi Anifowose in his presentation titled ” The NSC Strategic Plan :The journey so far taking into consideration the achievements, challenges and recommendations, gave comparative analysis of the 2023 strategic plan.
Prof. Adesola Osibona, a lecturer in University of Lagos gave a presentation tagged ” Repositioning the NSC: :The imperatives of Economic Regulation in Marine & Blue Economy”.
Adesola spoke extensively on the Marine & Blue Economy, its components and other array of issues relating to the topic. the under discourse.
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