The National Union of Road Transport Workers NURTW and the other road transport unions on Thursday called on the Federal Government to provide necessary conditions for the establment of National Transport and logistics Research Trust Fund for smooth operation of transporters in the country.
The union also called for an enlargement of the curriculum of the Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology NITT for better training in areas of transport and logistics, research and consultancy services to both transport and logistics organisations.
The union canvassed this position at a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Land Transport held at the National Assembly Abuja on Thursday.
The hearing is on A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology CAP N11 LFN 2004 and Re-Enact the National Institute of Technology Act, to Provide for Full Time and Part Time Courses of Instruction And Training for General Development of the Transport and Logistics Sector of the Nigerian Economy for Junior, Middle Senior , Cadre, Managers, Technicians, Technologists, Artisans and Other Related Matters”.
Speaking at the hearing, National President of NURTW Com Suleman Adamu said that section 17 (3)and (4) of the NITT Act which called for the establishment of a special fund called “Sustainable National Transport and Logistics Research Fund should be created without further delay.
He further stated that with the establishment of the Fund, 2% of all receipts from road passengers and 1% of inland haulage charges are to be paid into the fund for smooth operation of transporters.
Moreover, the Association of Tricycle Owners of Nigeria TOAN said that there should be establishment of training institutes for tricycles and motorcycles in the country.
According to the union, there is no single training institute for tricycle drivers in the country and touting is the major source of revenue for the sector.
According to these stakeholders, the transport and logistics industry is very dynamic and requires the training and retraining of industry players and operators to keep them abreast with developments in the industry.
Earlier in a remark, Chairman of the House Committee Hon Dr Abbas Tajudeen said that Nigeria has lost a lot of untapped resources in the area of transportation
He noted that the United Kingdom, China and other countries have training institutes for transport operators adding that they ‘ll reposition the first training institute for transportation in Nigeria.
He regretted that Nigeria had faced a lot of challenges in the area of road crashes and called on the stakeholders to contribute their ideas on the way forward.
