By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has revealed that the Nigeria Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill has not yet become law, following the identification of conflicting provisions with the Nigerian Tax Administration Act 2025.
Executive Secretary of the council, Pius Akutah, made the disclosure on Thursday during the 2026 NSC Management Retreat in Abeokuta, themed “Advancing Strategic Execution: Driving Collaboration, Innovation and Excellence for a Future-Ready NSC.”
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Akutah explained that although the bill had previously been passed by the National Assembly of Nigeria and transmitted for presidential assent to President Bola Tinubu, certain sections conflicted with the nation’s tax legislation.
“During the review process, certain provisions were observed to conflict with the Nigerian Tax Administration Act 2025. In line with the observations communicated by Mr President, the bill was returned to the National Assembly for the necessary corrections,” he said.
He added that the House of Representatives has now amended the conflicting provisions and passed the revised version.
The legislation is currently awaiting concurrence from the Senate of Nigeria before it can be sent back for presidential assent.
Akutah noted that the NPERA legislation, once signed into law, would strengthen Nigeria’s port economic regulatory framework and expand the council’s mandate within the maritime sector.
He also provided updates on staff welfare, revealing that a proposed salary review had received approval from the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and is undergoing final vetting by the Budget Office of the Federation before submission to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
Other benefits, including an upward review of the Children Education Grant and new health and social club allowances, have also been introduced.
He urged staff to maintain high ethical standards, cautioning against gossip and misinformation that could undermine the council’s credibility.
“The Nigerian Shippers’ Council is a regulatory institution of national importance. Its reputation, credibility and authority depend greatly on the conduct, integrity and professionalism of its staff,” Akutah said.
The council’s Governing Board Chairman, Ibrahim Shema, highlighted NSC’s critical role in developing the marine and blue economy, while Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Fatima Sugra-Mahmood, urged the council to enhance port cost monitoring systems and dispute resolution mechanisms for improved operational efficiency.
Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at NSC, Rotimi Anifowoshe, stressed the importance of execution, noting: “If we execute effectively, stakeholder confidence deepens, institutional credibility strengthens and our contribution to national economic objectives becomes measurable.”
