On Tuesday, the Senate initiated the first reading of a significant bill aiming to create a National Road Transport Council. This council is envisioned to take on the crucial role of regulating both the road transport industry and the transport profession in Nigeria.
The bill, formally known as the National Road Transportation Council (Establishment) Bill 2024, finds its sponsorship from Deputy Senate Leader Senator Oyelola Ashiru. This legislative proposal was introduced to the Senate plenary as Senators resumed their sessions after a 30-day recess.
Delving into the specifics of the bill presented by the Kwara South Senator, it discloses that upon becoming law, a council board will be established. This board will comprise a Board Chairman and six members selected from each geo-political zone across the country.
Expanding our understanding of the bill, additional information emphasizes that the board’s leadership will be helmed by a representative from the Ministries of Transport, Commerce and Industry, and Aviation. Notably, these representatives are required to hold a rank no lower than that of a Director.
As highlighted in the explanatory memorandum of the bill , [b]the functions of the proposed council include; creating an effective regulatory framework on road transport service operators; determining the standard of knowledge and skills required for road transport service operators; encouraging the advancement of education in road transportation; ensuring accessibility of road transport facilities, [/b]channels, and routes; monitoring the performance of the regulated road transport industry; conducting background check on road transport service operators; registering all road transport service providers and determine the fees for such registration; setting guidelines and general policies for road transport service operators; updating the Federal Government on its activities and progress through annual and audited reports; reviewing progress and suggest improvement within the provisions of this Bill and do such other things as are necessary or incidental to the objects of the Council under this Bill or as may be assigned by the Federal Government.
The bill received the nod of the Senators via voice votes presided by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio shortly after it was introduced to the floor of the Red Chambers by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.
