Maritime lawyer, Emeka Akabogu has urged the Federal Government to take a second look at the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) on maritime agencies if it is having a negative impact on their operations.
Speaking in an interview with SHIPS & PORTS DAILY in his office, Akabogu said while the government may be trying to achieve some measure of transparency and control over its funds with the introduction of the policy, it is also important that maritime agencies which have certain responsibilities are able to meet their financial obligations.
He said, “If the agencies are unable to meet their responsibilities as reported, the course of the operation of the TSA is evidently not something to encourage.
“There must be a means to ensure that these agencies meet their mandate and at the same time do it transparently to the extent that the government of the day is still able to achieve its goals of monitoring its funds without the corrupt tendencies which the policy was meant to take care of.”
Akabogu however noted that the TSA can be operated if its processes are well streamlined in such a way that day to day operations of key government agencies are not encumbered.
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.