The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr Pius Akutah, has explained that the Nigeria Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill was not signed into law by President Bola Tinubu because certain provisions in the legislation conflicted with the Nigerian Tax Administration Act (NTAA) 2025.
Speaking at the Council’s 2026 Strategic Management Retreat in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Thursday, Akutah said the president returned the bill to the National Assembly for corrections after the inconsistencies were identified during the review process. According to him, the House of Representatives has since addressed the areas of conflict, amended the bill in line with the president’s observations and passed the revised version, which is now awaiting concurrence from the Senate before it can be transmitted again for presidential assent.
He noted that once signed into law, the legislation would provide the statutory backing needed to strengthen Nigeria’s port economic regulatory framework and formally reposition the Council for its expanded mandate.
Akutah also disclosed that a proposed salary review for staff of the Council has already received approval from the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation. He said the proposal is currently undergoing vetting by the Budget Office of the Federation and will subsequently be considered by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission for final approval before implementation.
He added that management has introduced additional welfare measures to improve staff motivation, including an upward review of the Children Education Grant, as well as the introduction of Health and Social Club allowances and proficiency allowances aimed at encouraging professional development.
The NSC boss further explained that the theme of the retreat, “Advancing Strategic Execution: Driving Collaboration, Innovation and Excellence for a Future-Ready NSC,” reflects the strategic direction required for the Council’s next phase of institutional development.
He stressed that effective regulation within the maritime sector requires strong collaboration among stakeholders, a commitment to innovation and technology-driven operations, and a culture of professionalism and excellence among staff.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Fatima Mahmood, said the Nigerian Shippers’ Council occupies a critical position in ensuring that Nigeria’s ports function as drivers of economic growth rather than bottlenecks to trade.
Represented by the ministry’s Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Kalthum Ibrahim, Mahmood urged the Council to strengthen port cost monitoring systems, improve dispute resolution mechanisms and enhance data analytics for regulatory oversight. She also called for more streamlined stakeholder engagement processes to boost efficiency and competitiveness within the nation’s port system.
According to her, the Council’s role as Port Economic Regulator places it at the centre of efforts to promote fairness, efficiency and competitiveness across the maritime ecosystem while safeguarding the broader economic interests of the country.
Mahmood further emphasised the need for stronger internal collaboration within the organisation, noting that institutional silos weaken implementation and reduce effectiveness. She encouraged cross-departmental synergy, shared performance targets and clear communication channels, while commending the Council for introducing the Enterprise Content Management System, which she said would improve workflow efficiency, strengthen institutional memory and support data-driven decision-making.
Declaring the retreat open, the Chairman of the NSC Governing Board, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, said the board remains committed to providing the policy direction needed to support management in achieving the ministry’s strategic objectives.
He assured that the board would continue to create an enabling environment through policies that will help the Council deliver improved services to port users and shipping operators within the marine and blue economy sector.
Shema also pledged that the board would explore every necessary avenue to ensure the NPERA Bill is successfully passed by the National Assembly and receives presidential assent as quickly as possible.