Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barrister Pius Akutah,

The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council NSC, Barr Pius Akutah, has charged members of staff of the Council to brace up for bigger tasks and responsibilities under the emerging dispensation in the history of the Council as the Economic Regulator for the country’s shipping industry.

This is sequel to the recent passage of the Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill by the country’s lower legislative chamber, the House of Representatives. The Bill seeks to give legal backing to the functions of the Council at Port Economic Regulator and further expand its roles and functions.

Speaking during a training session for middle management grade levels 12- 14 of the Council in Lagos, the visibly elated CEO, noted that it was left for upper legislative chamber, the Senate to also give a concurrent passage to the Bill. He further disclosed that the Bill has already passed the first reading at the Senate.

Akutah also noted the senior officers and indeed every member of staff of the Council needs to brace up for the bigger tasks ahead.

“Just last week, the House of Representatives passed our bill, the Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill. That’s a big step in the right direction. And just this last Tuesday, the Senate was poised to pass the bill so that it begins to prepare for Presidential Assent.

“We were there at the National Assembly up until 11pm, but because of the Supplementary Appropriation Bill, that line on the other paper of the Senate was not taken.

“The Senate has done the first reading of the Bill, and what’s left is for them to pass the bill. But the National Assembly has gone for recess. We believe that as soon as they are back from recess, that Bill will be passed into law.

The role we currently play as Port Economic Regulators will change as soon as we have the law in place because it gives us the capacity to not only to bark but also to bite. I believe that the sector will be better for it. And we are counting on all of you as here, as the engine room of this Council.

“I want to implore all of you to take this training as one of the avenues that we try to build capacity for the new roles that the Council has assumed. This training is tagged training for middle management grade level 12 to 14. As middle management officers, I want you to start preparing yourselves for top management roles.

“I also want you to know that in any organisation, middle management is the engine room that drives policy implementation. I bring you the greetings of the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Gboyega Oyeola, who has been very supportive to us as a Council. The Minister is driving the Blue Economy Ministry, writing up the policies for this sector, and he is keen to see that it kicks off to achieve the desire of Mr. President that this sector contributes to the national Gross Domestic Product GDP.

“The Nigerian Shippers Council, I want to let you know, is not just a factor in that regard, but is a key factor in moving the economy of this country forward through this sector that we have here”, Barrister Akutah said.