FG Moves to Reduce Ports Charges
Faced with cut-throat competition from neighbouring countries along the West African coast, the federal government has set in motion machinery to reduce charges in the nation’s ports with a view to making them more attractive to importers.

According to a statement issued by the Bureau of Public Enterprises [BPE], this was one of the key decisions of the National Council on Privatization [NCP] at a meeting on 09/06/08 where three sub-committees of the Presidential Task Force on Port Reforms were also set up to realize the objective.

The reconstituted Presidential Task Force on Ports Reforms which was inaugurated at the meeting has been charged with the responsibility to review and streamline the various port charges and tariffs, freight surcharges associated with the ports and ensure implementation of optimum level of government agencies operating in the ports and rationalization of jetties. The three sub-committees are Legal, Regulatory and Monitoring sub-committee; Finance and Labour sub-committee; and Customs and other agencies subcommittee.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had on December 1, 2005 inaugurated the Presidential Task Force on Ports Reforms under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Finance and Vice Chairman of NCP. The NCP, has now enlarged the terms of reference of the Taskforce, to include:

• The monitoring and evaluation of the concession agreements entered into between the Federal Government and Concessionaires and the rationalization of all jetties across the country. [NEW]
• Determine the causes of the inadequacies or otherwise of the NPA Pension Fund and ways and means of bridging the gap
• Drive the process of financing the severance within the provisions of the conditions of service of NPA
• Collaborate with NPA union leaders and enter into open talks in resolving all labour issues
• Drive the implementation of NPA workforce reduction within the context of new manning level for the authorities.

Task Force Details
• The 19-member Task Force is chaired by the Minister of Finance, who is also the Vice Chairman of NCP with Minister of Transportation as the Vice Chairman.
• The Legal, Regulatory and Monitoring Sub-committee is chaired by the Minister of Justice with Minister of Culture and Tourism as the Vice Chairman. The sub-committee would drive the passage of the ports reform bills, including the Ports and Harbour Authority and the National Transport Commission bills. It would also ensure the successful restructuring and transition of NPA in line with the new Ports and Harbour Authority bill and monitor and evaluate the implementation of the concession agreements between the government and concessionaires.
• The Finance and Labour Sub-committee has the Minister of Labour and Productivity as chairman. Its primary responsibilities include finalizing outstanding labour issues associated with the reform and re-align the assets and liabilities of NPA with the reformed port administration. It is also to ensure finalization of sale of NPA non-core assets and subsidiaries.
• The Customs and Other Agencies Sub-committee has the Minister of Defence as its Chairman. It is to review and streamline the various port charges and tariffs, freight surcharges associated with the ports and ensure implementation of optimum level of government agencies operating in the ports and rationalization of jetties.
• Other members of the Task Force included the Minister of State for Transportation, Ministers of Defence, Health, and National Planning. Others were: National Security Adviser, Comptroller General of Customs, Comptroller General of Immigration Service Inspector General of Police, SA to the President on Legal Matters, Economic Adviser to the President, SA to the Vice President, Director General, BPE, MD, Nigerian Ports Authority, MD, Nigeria Export Processing Zones; and Director (Transportation), BPE. [VAN 11/06/08]