The House of Representatives on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024 directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Federal Ministry of Finance to immediately refund the 50 per cent deduction from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council’s account.
The House also mandated the Federal Ministry of Finance to release all outstanding 2 percent Port Development Levy Surcharge funds owed to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
Adopting a motion moved by Abba Ahmed Sani from Zamfara State, the Green Chamber equally mandated its Committees on Shipping Services, Finance, and Public Accounts to ensure compliance with the resolution.
Presenting the motion, Sani said the Ministry of Finance deducted 50 per cent of the Nigerian Shippers Council’s account balance in December 2023 under the provisions of the 2021 Finance Act.
He lamented that the Ministry of Finance has been slow and inconsistent in releasing the 2 per cent portion of the 7 per cent Port Development Levy Surcharge allocated to the Council, resulting in delayed and insufficient funding.
The lawmaker expressed worry that the non-release and delayed release of funds has caused significant operational challenges for the Council, including the inability to pay salaries and retirees’ entitlements, leading to undue hardship for staff and retirees.
Sani added that the headquarters of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is in a critical condition due to structural and technical damages.
He pointed out that the building is at risk of imminent collapse, posing a significant danger to staff and visitors, adding that this situation is a potential national disaster-in-waiting.”
The lawmakers were concerned that “the building’s integrity is compromised, with a leaking roof that allows water to seep into the upper floors during rainfall. This worsens the structural damages and makes the environment uninhabitable and hazardous.”
Sani expressed concern that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is classified as a revenue-generating agency, placing it in the same category as other such agencies, even though they are not.
This misclassification, he noted, has resulted in inadequate budgetary allocations, leaving the Council unable to meet its operational and financial obligations.”
The motion was unanimously adopted and referred to the relevant committees.
