The Senate on Thursday 15th of
March, 2018 passed the National Transport Commission Bill. After a clause by
clause consideration of the Bill, the bill was finally read the third time and
passed.

The National Transport Commission was
sponsored for the first time in 2008 but could not be passed till the end of
the assembly due to the complex nature of the bill.

The current version of the National Transport
Commission Bill was sponsored by Senator Andy Uba and was read for the second
time on the floor of the Senate on the 7thof October, 2015 after
which the Senate referred the Bill to the Joint Senate Committee of Land
Transport, Marine Transport and Aviation Transport ably chaired by Distinguished
Senator Gbenga Ashafa representing Lagos East Senatorial District.

The Chairman of the Joint Senate Committee,
Senator Gbenga Ashafa and other members held interactive sessions with
stakeholders in the Transport Industry to evaluate the bill including a public
hearing to enable them diligently handle the bill before same was presented to
the Senate for third reading.

Commenting on the passage of the bill by the
Senate, Ashafa expressed his excitement over the passage of the Bill having
worked assiduously with other members of the committee and stake holders to
ensure that the best possible version of the bill is passed into law. 

 Ashafa in his comments said “the National
Transport Commission when signed into law is capable of setting the transport
sector on the path of positive development. With this bill, we would
successfully create a multi-modal transport sector economic and safety
oversight regulator for the transport sector. This is very good for business as
it brings standard and structure to the transport sector while also increasing
the revenue of Government.”

He stated further that, “The Joint Senate
Committee worked with the understanding that this is one of the priority
Economic Bills of the 8th Senate and therefore ensured that all
imputes from stake holders were considered and the best possible version of the
bill was presented to the Senate.”

Ashafa concluded by expressing appreciation
to the Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki for his commitment to
prioritizing bills that would have great impact on the economy.

The National Transport Commission Bill when
signed into law will create a multi-modal transport sector economic and safety
oversight commission, that will drive the National Transport Policy.