2% Ports Development Levy Not Enough For Council's Function – Shippers Council Boss

Harboursandport.com: Lagos - Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, CEO of the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, Emmanuel Jime, on Monday in his office said that 2 percent revenue accruable to the Council from the 7 percent Ports Development Levy (PDL) is not enough for the Council to carry out its function effectively.

Jime, disclosed this while receiving an award from the National Coordinator of the Port Standing Task Term, PSTT, Moses Fadipe. The award was presented to the Council over the weekend by the Council of Maritime Transport Union and Association COMTUA.

When asked about the challenges faced since assuming office as helmsman of the Council, Jime said inadequate funding since they rely on the 2 percent PDL despite the increasing responsibilities of the Council.

The Shippers Council boss also frowned at the inability of the Council to persecute defaulters of laws of cargo clearing processes and port operations due to the absence of the provision to do so in the establishing Act.

He explained that “The 2 percent of the 7 percent Ports Development Levy, PDL which is the source of funding for the Council and others does not come to much. The funding line is not consistent with the requirements that we have.”

He said the Council has been functioning with the same funds before the establishment of the PSTT whose function is national but stressed that it is only operating in the Lagos area presently.

He noted the “legal environment and structure do not allow the Council to perform effectively.”

He frowned at the inability of the Council to sanction those who fall short of the laws since its establishing Act does not empower it to do so. He noted that the Council had to depend on the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council, NCCPC which he is not very comfortable with.

He said though attempts have been made in the past to correct the abnormality through the establishment of the National Transport Commission, NTC, it has not been successful.

He, however, explained that he is favorably disposed to working with the legal department of the Council to explore the possibility of amending the exstablishment of the Act, he noted.