As a result of the tough economic times Nigeria is facing, the House Committee on Ports, Harbours and Waterways has urged the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to explore other avenues to generate income to sustain the Council.
The Chairman, House Committee on Ports, Harbours and Waterways, Hon. Patrick Asadu made this call when the Committee paid a working visit to the headquarters of Shippers’ Council yesterday.
Asadu noted that there was a dire need for the Council to explore the other ways of generating revenue in order to reduce the challenges of low funding which may affect the Council’s revenue amid the economic recession the nation is facing.
The Committee Chairman revealed that he was impressed with the 2016 budget performance of the Shippers’ Council even as he pointed out that the Council could be more resourceful in its bid to generate more revenue.
“We are here to review the 2016 budget of the Nigerian Shippers Council and I’m impressed; although it is an ongoing process as the Council is coming to defend the budget at the National Assembly. There are also areas where the Council has to improve but they are have done a lot considering the challenges of paucity of funds”
“As a Committee we need to follow-up how monies are being used by agencies in the sector. The House Committee has adopted a model to find out how monies appropriated to these agencies are spent. This becomes imperative because it is wrong to give more monies to agencies which are not making judicious use of its revenue” Asadu said.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) Barr. Hassan Bello said the Council would step up its revenue generation drive in line with the recommendations by the House Committee.
Hassan Bello highlighted opportunities for more income from land properties, rents, seminars, sales of books, etc. giving assurances that the Council would explore these areas
