Bill to Amend NITT Act Scales 2nd Reading in House of Reps
BY OBUTE JAMES
The Bill to amend The Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, NITT on Tuesday passed through Second Reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill which was sponsored by Hon. (Dr.) Abbas Tajudeen, Chairman, House Committee on Land Transport seeks to repeal the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology Act CAP N166 LFN 2004 and enact (establish) the National Institute of Transport Technology Act 2019 to, among other things, to provide professional management and skills acquisition training and services.
In the lead debate Dr. Tajudeen who is representing Zaria Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, said the bill intends to expand the sources of funding for the institute with a view to making it self-sustaining,and empower the institute to become a major contributor to the national treasury.
“For example Section 17 (3)and (4) established a special fund called Sustainable National Transport and Logistics Research Fund, where shall be paid and credited 3% of such funds from identified sources as shall be provided by the agencies under the Federal Ministry of Transportation and related National and International agencies and other transport logistics organization.
The Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology was conceived as Railway Training Institute and was expanded to serve as a Multi-Modal institute covering rail, road, water, Air and pipeline. It was formally approved for establishment by Federal Government in 1980 and took-off informally at the Railway compound in Zaria.
The Institute was backed by law (now CAP 116, LFN, 2004) and was formally commissioned and upgraded to a Parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Transport, puting it at par with universities.
The principal Act, Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology Act CAP N166 LFN 2004 came in operations in 14th March 1986. The Act, according to the long title, was enacted to establish the N.I.T.T, among other things, provide for full or part-time courses of instruction and training of middle cadre managers, technicians and technologist engaged in operations, management of transport sector of the Nigerian economy.
representive of Zaria Federal Constituency of Kaduna State
After 35 years of operating the principal Act, it has been found to be deficient and fell short of the demands of today.It is these deficiencies that the Bill is intended to address.
According to Aims of the Bill based on the lead debate, the Bill seeks to “repeal the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology Act CAP N166 LFN 2004 and enact (establish) the National Institute of Transport Technology Act 2019 to, among other things, to provide professional management and skills acquisition training and services and share experience with experts of professional bodies, other national, regional and international transport technology, logistics and management training institutions and to promote links and enter into bilateral /training agreements as may be appropriate.”
The Benefits of the Bill:
“The Bill is intended to restructure the administrative organs of the institute, with a view to making them effective and efficient in the delivery of their statutory mandate;
“Secondly, the Bill intends to expand the sources of funding for the institutes with a view to making it self-sustaining,and empower the institute to become a major contributor to the national treasury. For example Section 17 (3)and (4) established a special fund called Sustainable National Transport and Logistics Research Fund, where shall be paid and credited 3% of such funds from identified sources as shall be provided by the agencies under the Federal Ministry of Transportation and related National and International agencies and other transport logistics organization;
“Thirdly, under the Bill, the retirement age of the academic staff of the institute is increased from 35 years of pensionable service or 60 years of age, (whichever is earlier) to 40 years of pensionable service or 65 years of age. The essence is to align the retirement age of the staff with those applicable to other academic or research institutions in Nigeria.
“Fourthly, in the principal Act, the composition of the government council of the institute, includes “one representative from the Nigerian Airways Limited”. However, it was noted that Nigerian Airways Limited does not exist anymore and this provision was changed by the drafters of the Bill to “one representative of the Aviation industry’
“Fifthly, law review or reform is a natural fallout of human society. As the society changes, it is natural that its laws should be reviewed or reformed to keep pace with the changes. When the principal Act was passed, Nigeria was under Military dictatorship. However, with the establishment of Constitutional Democracy in Nigeria in 29th May 1999, it becomes necessary to align some of the provisions of the Act with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and most importantly democratic tenets and principles.”
Similarly, “the Nigerian transport sector does not exist in isolation. It is an integral part of the international transportation network. Due to the introduction of information technology and globalization, the Nigerian transport sector has been impacted radically. This transformation should be reflected in the legal framework. Hence, there is need to review or reform the existing Act to reflect the prevailing situation in the country and international best practices,” Tajudeen said.