By Loveth Anyaegbunam
In an unusual bold assertion, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Nigerian Shipper’s Council( NSC), Dr. Pius Akutah, has declared that the implementation of the Federal Government’s Performance Management System is non-negotiable, even as he read a sizzling riot act to members of staff on performance assessment and delivery.
To align the Council’s renewed concerted commitment to action, He had rolled out a 5-Year strategic plan(2025-2029) as a call to action.
To effectively carry out the plan, he outlined the Council’s strategic imperatives and issued clear policy directives to guide the implementations over the next five years.
Delivering a keynote speech at the Council’s 2025 two-days Management System Retreat in Lagos, on Wednesday, with the theme: “Achieving Strategic Intents Through Performance Lens” Akutah said, “NSC can no longer afford to operate as a process-heavy,paper-driven bureaucracy. We must now define our success not by our activities, but by our outcomes. Not by intentions, but by results.”
He said the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, has placed performance at the centre of national development, which presupposes a call for institutions like NSC to show leadership in trade facilitation, port efficiency improvement, inter-agency coordination, accelerating port infrastructure delivery , enhancing stakeholders confidence, and mainstreaming sustainability across the logistics value chain.
Asserting that, “We are in a new era” the CEO, said the Council must serve as both a policy anchor and delivery vehicle in support of the Ministry’s goals, adding “Our mandates align with the policy’s strategic thrusts, including trade logistics, cargo management, and port infrastructure development.”
According to him, “All departments-particularly Legal Services, Strategic Planning & Research, Regulatory Services, Consumer Affairs, Inland Transport Services, and Zonal Coordinators, are to align annual work plans with relevant components of the national policy.
” Quarterly reports evidencing this alignment shall henceforth be submitted to the ES/CEO’s office and transmitted to the Ministry.
He bemoaned the current cargo dwell time and vessel turnaround statistics, saying it remains unacceptable, noting “We must work to ensure that cargo clearing timelines in Nigerian ports are reduced to match regional benchmarks”.
Akutah continued,”The Regulatory Services and ICT units are to collaborate with terminal operators and Customs to develop an integrated dashboard that tracks real-time vessel/cargo processing metrics. This dashboard shall form part of the Council’s monthly performance review with the ES/CEO.
He said, “The days of manual processing must come to an end. Our Enterprise Content Management (ECM) system must be fully deployed, with 100% compliance across all departments latest by December 2025.
By the end of Q3 2025, all internal memos, approvals, correspondences, and record-keeping must migrate to the ECM platform. Any department that fails to comply will face administrative sanctions.
“The implementation of the Federal Government’s Performance Management System is non-negotiable. Each staff member, from the highest to the most junior, must be assessed against a clearly defined set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
HRM and SPRD are to finalise and implement individual performance contracts in line with departmental scorecards. Annual promotions, postings, and recognitions will be tied to individual and departmental performance.
Infrastructure remains central to our mandate. Projects such as the Jos Inland Dry Port, Gateway IDP (Ogun), Kano Dala IDP, Potiskum Vehicle Transit Area(VTA), and Border Information Centres must move beyond paperwork and into full execution.
“The Inland Transport Services Department, PPP and relevant zonal coordinators are to provide fortnightly progress reports. The ES/CEO will personally monitor project timelines, budget adherence, and stakeholder engagement.
A regulator that is not responsive to its stakeholders loses legitimacy. We must engage constructively, communicate clearly, and act decisively.
“The PR Unit, Consumer Affairs Department, and Strategic Planning Department must institutionalize quarterly stakeholder forums, release public-facing regulatory newsletters, and establish a formal complaint-resolution tracker.
He declared: “Colleagues, no institution is stronger than its people. This administration will prioritise talent development, onboarding, mentorship, and welfare.
“HRM must roll out a structured induction process for all new staff within 30 days of employment. Additionally, the Council will institutionalise a Leadership and Innovation Development Series for senior officers, starting from Q3 2025.
“We must now move from good intentions to disciplined execution. From this retreat, I expect that every Director, Deputy Director, and Unit Head will return with a clear action plan, a revised mindset, and a renewed sense of urgency.
“The Office of the Executive Secretary shall provide the platform, tools, and support. But I shall also demand full compliance, regular reporting, and visible transformation in every department and unit. As I have often said: performance is not an option. It is the new culture.
Akutah appreciated for the umptheenth time,the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola for his support and commitment to repositioning the maritime sector as a key enabler of Nigeria’s prosperity.
He added,”I thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his courageous leadership in entrusting this strategic industry to purposeful and reform-minded leadership.
“To the staff and leadership of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council: the future is ours to shape. Let us match our strategy with action, our duty with discipline, and our mandate with measurable progress.
Let this retreat be remembered not just as an event — but as a turning point.”
