… Says Council’s non proactive stance already frustrating NAGAFF
Maritime guru and National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam do not only love the Council for Regulations of Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (CRFFN), he also insists that the NAGAFF has consistently work, in protection of the CRFFN.
… But he warns, in a chat with the Maritime First crew recently, that the Council must stop its foot-dragging, non-proactive stance, otherwise, the NAGAFF may move against Sir Mike Jukwe, the Council Registrar.
Excerpt please:-
The NAGAFF once, seriously supported the CRFFN in the past. Today, some industry watchers are not so sute again.
What would you say went wrong?
A:
You are getting it wrong. The NAGAFF has always been with the CRFFN and we will continue to be with the CRFFN. The CRFFN has always been a baby of NAGAFF. But, first let me take you back a bit, especially to the emergence of CRFFN.
You would recall when Chief Sarumi was the Managing Director of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC); you will recall when NAGAFF hosted ISA BALUCHI, the Vice President of FIATA at the Eko L’e Meridien Hotel.; then I was the President of NAGAFF;
You would recall when ISAH BALUCHI went to see Ojo Maduekwe, who was then the Minister of Transport. You would also recall the outcome of their meeting, especially on the need for harmonization of various freight forwarding bodies coming out from Nigeria; because FIATA was the global body for the freight forwarders just like you have FIFA for football.
That was how we had gone to the National Assembly because the only way out was to work for an Act of the National Assembly to harmonize all these contesting bodies.
You will also recall that when the bill came up at the National assembly, especially during the public hearing the synergy was quite obvious, certain individuals, groups and organizations who opposed the emergence of the CRFFN.
Then, it was Ernest Elochukwu who was the President of ANLCA.
You would also recall the role Mr. Lucky Amurero played, and several others who opposed the emergence of the Council.
You would also recall that Alhaji SanI Kamba, a former president of ANLCa who also then was a senator of the Federal republic of Nigeria, who came to the public hearing, to indicate that he was there to kill the bill. But, you would also recall that Okuabunwa as the moderator, at the National Assembly told them he was there to make laws, for the good of the greater number of Nigerians and that they were not there to kill bills. You recalled all these and how at the end of the day, the bill became law.
You should also be able to recall the maiden election of the Council; you would recall the bungling of the election processes, whereby only corporate bodies were allowed, to stand in for election.
You should also be able to recall that issues were raised and joined on how the constitution of the Council was incomplete because it had to do be with individuals, corporate bodies and firms or organizations.
But the election was done with only one factor: which was corporate bodies, licensed by the Nigerian Customs.
But you would also recall that the election was rigged by raising factions of corporate bodies, purported to have been registered by the Customs. You would also recall that out of the eight members; seven were ANLCA and only one was from the Airport. Mr. Agubama.
You would also recall that I was the first person as the President of NAGAFF, that extended our hand of fellowship to the winners and we accepted to losing in good fate. You would also recall that the Council took off and paraded themselves as government workers under the Government’s Ministry of Transport, carrying Coat of Arms in their complimentary cards; their Vehicles carried FGN numbers; they were taking money from the Federation Accounts, submitting annual budgeting etc.
You would also recall that I kicked against it and that led to going to court.
You must agree with me that the court came out with the pronouncement that the CRFFN is an arm of the Federal Ministry of Transport.
But, you are also aware that we have gone to the appellate court. We have appealed against that judgment.
Our reasons are very obvious. If the CRFFN is a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Transport, then, of course, the chairman, Board of CRFFN should be appointed by Mr. President.
Similarly, the Registrar of the Council should also be an employee of the Federal Ministry of Transport: but he is an appointed member, appointed by members of the Council.
You would recall that the maiden election members of the relevant agencies including the NPA the Custom etc. were bared from taking part in the election and so on and so forth.
So, right from the public hearing, there had been machinery put in place to put down the Council.
So Jukwe was appointed by the same cabal. But the first Council and the second council have come and gone, and the man in charge is running (the body now) as a Sole Administrator—because election have been due; but election has not been held. And it is unconstitutional!
Let me again tell you, if that is what you want to hear, we cannot kill our own baby.
There are however two legislative instruments: that governs the freight forwarding industry. One is the CRFFN.
The second is the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) that has to do with the licensing regulations of the licensed Customs clearing agents.
So, if I want to open it up for you to understand, the membership of the Customs licensed agents are at an advantage considering the strategic nature of the customs; as far as moving cargo out of Customs controlled ports are concerned.
In other words, as freight forwarders, you can see what happened at the Airport, where if you are not licensed by the Customs Service, you were bared from going into certain places.
We have provided solution in this regard; in the need for harmonization, of these two regulatory instruments—i.e that CRFFN and the licenses regulations of the Customs under relevant sections, for optimal performance.
So, whatever you see NAGAFF as talking about, it is about safe guarding the CRFFN that seeks to protect the NAGAFF members more.
However, as at now, NAGAFF is getting frustrated, for non-relevant application of the rule of engagement as far as the CRFFN is concerned.
This is 2015; and Jukwe has to move very fast or we do what we know best…
To be continued….