By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Director-General/Chief Executive officer of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Bayero Salih-Farah has assured local and foreign investors that the planned amendment of the law establishing the institute would when operational, strengthen both public and private sector participation in the transport industry in Nigeria.
He stated this at a one-day public hearing on a bill to repeal the Nigerian institute of transport technology act, cap. N116, laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004 and enact the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology Act organized by the House of Representatives and held at the national assembly, Abuja on Thursday.
The existing NITT law mandated the Institute to provide research, full and part-time courses of instruction and training for middle cadre managers, technicians and technologists engaged in the operations, management and general development of the transport sector of the Nigerian economy.
Explaining the reason for the amendment, Bayero said the law which has been in existence for more than 30 years needs to be reviewed with a view to fine-tuning it with current realities in line with global trends, stressing that “an investment in transportation translates to an investment in other sectors of the economy”.
Other benefits to be derived from the new law he said, include; ensuring NITT standardised curriculum and training in line with the needs of stakeholders, strengthening the capacity of the Institute to deliver quality programmes to the Industry as well as expansion of the Institute’s programmes and structures to meet the increasing needs of the industry.
In addition, the new law, he said, would pave the way for financial autonomy of the Institute, remove obsolete policies that are inimical to its growth and development in particular and the transport industry in general and enable the institute to professionally act as a think-tank and Centre of Transport Intelligence and aiding the Institute in building a formidable transport data bank for better planning and investments in the country.
He therefore urged the national assembly and other stakeholders in the transport industry to support the Institute to achieve its goals which he said would have a positive ripple effect on both the transport sector and the nation’s economy.
In her remarks, Gbemisola Saraki the Hon Minister of State for Transportation, said the amendment of the bill was long overdue in view of current realities in the global economy.
“Given the need to respond to changing circumstances, including the need to align its staff policies with those of other academic institutions, the ministry supports the general principle of the bill which is geared towards ensuring that NITT becomes a more professional, practical and future driven institution which would serve the much needed manpower in our nation’s transport sector.
“This bill is designed to ensure that we put in place a foremost national institution to address our potential manpower requirements” she stated.
Declaring the public hearing open, Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker House of Representatives said the bill if properly utilized and harnessed will liberate us from over dependence on oil, provide direct and indirect employment opportunities and reduce the carnage on the roads, waterways and others.
Represented by deputy house leader, Peter Akpatason, the speaker described as worrisome, the high number of deaths on our roads and hoped the new bill will provide solutions to such issues.
“This bill is very is timely and a laudable initiative. We as legislators will support all viable efforts that will lead to the improvement of the transportation industry in Nigeria” he said.
