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left: Former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Gbenga Daniel, Chairman, Governing Board of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Ibrahim Shema and Executive Secretary/CEO of the Council, Dr. Pius Akutah.
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The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Dr. Akutah Pius, MON, has disclosed reasons for the delay in the passage of Nigeria Port Economic Regulatory Agency NPERA, Bill, which was transmitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last year by the National Assembly after its passage by both chambers.
Speaking at the Council's 2026 Strategic Management Retreat, aimed at strengthening collaboration, innovation, and operational excellence within Nigeria’s maritime sector, Akutah disclosed that the President returned the bill to the National Assembly because certain provisions conflicted with the Nigerian Tax Administration Act 2025.
The four – day retreat with the theme: “Advancing Strategic Execution: Driving Collaboration, Innovation and Excellence for a Future-Ready NSC”, was held between March 4th - 7th, 2026, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The NSC-boss said: “As you are aware, the Bill had earlier been passed by the National Assembly and transmitted for Presidential assent.
“During the review process, however, certain provisions were observed to conflict with the Nigerian Tax Administration Act NTAA 2025”. Therefore, the Bill was returned to the National Assembly for necessary corrections”.
He further disclosed that the House of Representatives had already corrected the conflicting areas and that the revised version is now awaiting concurrence from the Senate.
He assured that once assented to, the legislation will provide the statutory foundation for strengthening Nigeria’s port economic regulatory framework and further reposition the Council for its expanded mandate.
Speaking on the proposed salary review, Akutah announced that it has already received approval from the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
He said the proposal is currently undergoing final vetting by the Budget Office, after which it will be considered by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission for final approval before implementation.
He added that several welfare improvements have been introduced, including, Upward review of the Children Education Grant to per term, introduction of Health and Social Club allowances; and introduction of Proficiency Allowances to encourage professional development, stating that these initiatives reflect management’s commitment to strengthening staff welfare and institutional morale.
The CEO also charged staff to maintain high ethical standards, warning against gossip and misinformation
He maintained that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is a regulatory institution of national importance, and therefore, its reputation, credibility, and authority depend greatly on the conduct, integrity, and professionalism of its staff and as such, every member of the organisation must therefore uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline confidentiality, and institutional responsibility.
Speaking on the retreat, Akutah charged all staff to take full ownership of the Council’s transformation agenda which requires stronger collaboration across departments and units, greater innovation in the way technology and regulatory tools are deployed, and an uncompromising commitment to excellence in service delivery.
“The theme of this year’s retreat highlights three strategic imperatives that must guide the next phase of the Council’s institutional development; Collaboration, because no regulatory institution can operate effectively in isolation within a complex maritime ecosystem.
“Innovation, because the dynamics of global trade and logistics require institutions that are adaptive, technology-driven and forward-looking, Excellence, because the credibility and authority of a regulator ultimately depend on the professionalism, integrity and performance of its people.
“These three pillars must therefore shape how we think, how we lead, and how we execute our responsibilities as an institution”, he said.
Akutah urged Directors and Heads of Units to move beyond simple administration and become drivers of institutional transformation, ensuring the Council’s 2025–2029 Strategic Plan is met with clinical execution. “Each department/unit must align its priorities with the strategic objectives of the Council. “Each leader must inspire their teams toward higher performance. And each unit must commit itself to delivering measurable results. “Let us remember that institutions do not transform themselves, people transform institutions, and the responsibility for that transformation begins with us” he said.
Chairman of the Governing Board of the Council, Dr. Ibrahim Shema CON, while speaking at the retreat, highlighted the strategic role of the maritime sector in achieving Nigeria’s economic development goals.
According to him, the Council remains committed to supporting the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in driving policies that will unlock the full potential of the sector.
“Nigeria’s over 850-kilometers of coastlines, extensive inland waterways, and vast marine resources provide enormous opportunities for economic expansion.
“Thus, strategic investments in port infrastructure, shipping services, fisheries, aquaculture, offshore energy, and coastal tourism could generate millions of jobs and significantly increase Nigeria’s contribution to global maritime trade.
“Expectedly, collaboration between the Governing Board, management staff, and industry stakeholders is critical to achieving the Council’s objectives. So the Council will continue to promote policies that encourage innovation, efficiency, and strategic partnerships within the maritime ecosystem”, Dr. Shema said.
therefore urged staff members to maintain professionalism and institutional discipline, particularly in handling internal grievances, warning that public airing of internal matters could undermine the credibility of the Council.
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| From left: Executive Secretary/CEO, NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, Director, Research, Planning and Statistics, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs. Fatima Sugra Mahmood, who represented the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Hajia Kalthum Ibrahim and Chairman, Governing Board of the Council, Dr. Ibrahim Shema during the retreat |
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs. Fatima Sugra Mahmood, who was represented by the Director, Research, Planning and Statistics of the Ministry, Hajia Kalthum Ibrahim, commended Nigerian Shippers’ Council’s management for hosting the retreat at a time when Nigeria’s maritime sector is undergoing significant transformation and unassuming greater strategic relevance.
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council, she said, is pivotal in the nation’s maritime sector in the execution of its regulatory mandate aimed at promoting the competitiveness of Nigeria’s ports.
She called on the Council to ensure continuous engagement with terminal operators, shipping companies, and other stakeholders in the maritime industry.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director, Strategic Planning and Research Department of the Council, Mr. Rotimi Anifowose noted that as the demand for efficiency, predictability, and transparency is rising, the Council cannot afford to fail stakeholders whose expectations are increasing and government priorities are becoming more performance-driven.
”In this environment, execution is not optional, it is essential. If we execute effectively, Stakeholder confidence deepens, Institutional credibility strengthens, regulatory authority becomes respected and our contribution to national economic objectives becomes visible and measurable”, he said.
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