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NASS, Stakeholders Differ On CSR Legislation

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Stakeholders in the Organised Private Sector (OPS) on Thursday expressed objection to legislation on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for companies operating in Nigeria.

They held that such legislation would hinder the attraction of investors to the country.

OPS members, who spoke at a seminar in Lagos, held under the auspices of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), said that a legislation on CSR would deepen the harsh business environment in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many participants, drawn from the extractive industry, oil and gas, telecommunications, banks, small and medium scale industries, urged the National Assembly to drop the current debate on the CSR bill.

The Chairman of Dubri Oil Company Ltd, Dr Imo Itsueli, described CSR legislation as an invasion of companies’ privacy that would further mortgage the nation’s numerous harsh tax regimes.

“Legislation on CSR will drive away investments. Companies are already inundated with so many taxes from the various layers of government for us to think of additional burden on them,” Itsueli said.

According to him, the paramount issue remains that the people must hold government accountable and compel those in power to provide evidence of tax utilisation.

Drawing from MTN Communications Nigeria’s success profile in CSR, Mr Akinwale Goodluck said that challenges of the nation’s economy made it imperative for CSR issue to be encouraged instead of legislation.

Akinwale said that MTN’s policy of committing 1 per cent of its net profit to the communication company’s foundation made it possible for them to actualise set goals on CSR.

He said that one of the ways of encouraging and institutionalising CSR was to legislate on the issue of tax rebate for companies engaged in verifiable CSR programmes.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sigma Technical Agencies (Nigeria) Ltd, Dr Samuel Amachree, said that the general acceptance of CSR in the polity made it imperative for regulation.

Amachree said that while he subscribed to the need for government to be effectively accountable in general governance, legislation would moderate and galvanise sustainable CSR in Nigeria.

Earlier, the Director-General of NESG, Mr Frank Nweke, said the seminar was part of the group’s advocacy to leverage and situate CSR in the nation’s business climate.

Nweke said that collaboration with the Canadian High Commission on CSR was to share from their experience and add a global perspective to the concept.

The Canadian Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Jean Gauthier said the collaboration was a fallout of the 15th Economic Summit and the need to avail the Nigerian business community the opportunity to be part of the international community on CSR issues.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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